"They can and will do better": Minister apologises for major MSD payment issues

The Social Development Minister's apologising it took so long for the Government to figure out thousands of benefits had been accidentally cut. 

Around 30 thousand benefit and winter energy payments were stopped after an error caused by legislation rushed through Parliament under urgency last year.  

Minister Louise Upston doesn't accept the legislation was rushed. 

A review reveals issues were raised as early as April but only seriously addressed in August. 

Upston told Mike Hosking individual cases were being raised, but no one was putting it together and escalating it. 

She says the day she and senior leaders were told, it took 48 hours before all of the winter energy payments had been repaid. 

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