Maharey On Mikus

In 1998, over 4,000 applicants for the DPB were refused. Jules Mikus was not amongst them.

Lindsay Mitchell, petitioner for a parliamentary review of the DPB comments, "When Paul Holmes asked the Minister responsible for WINZ why Jules Mikus wasn't 'flagged', given his history, Mr Maharey answered that, we must remember, 'The DPB is given to the children.' "

"What?" Mitchell exclaims. "It is news to me that two day-old babies have bank accounts. What rubbish. The money was given directly to Jules Mikus."

"So what did Mr Maharey mean?" Mitchell speculates."Given his record as a staunch defender of the DPB he was possibly hearing questions that weren't being asked. To a simple question about departmental procedure he gave a typically ideological answer, one that immediately shuts down any meaningful debate about this benefit."

" 'The DPB is given to the children,' means it is therefore sacrosanct and not up for discussion. Never mind that people like Jules Mikus can get it. Never mind that he fathered at least 9 other children to women who probably would have been far less inclined to have his children if he was their only source of support thereafter. "

"The DPB is, in fact, given to the grown-ups. They end up on this benefit because one or both parents have put their interests ahead of their child's. While policymakers continue to deny this, more children will enter this world with very poor outlooks."

Lindsay Mitchell

Petitioner for a parliamentary review of the DPB ph/fx 04 562 7944 e-mail mailto:dandl.mitchell@clear.net.nz

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