July 01, 2013
Beneficiaries need kiosk choice
A beneficiary advocacy group is welcoming the return of internet kiosks to Work and Income offices, but warns that it should not replace other options.
Kiosks were removed several months ago after a major security flaw was exposed that allowed the users of some terminals access to internal departmental systems including the personal files of other beneficiaries.
Sarah Thompson from Auckland Action Against Poverty says with the high percentage of jobs now advertised only on the internet, it’s important job seekers get access.
"Māori have proportionately lower access to a computer but at the same time some people might be keen to use the kiosks but others might want to speak to a person to apply for assistance, if they want a more personal approach or if they’ve got less computer skills, so hopefully Work and Income will keep this in mind and allow people to apply in person rather than forcing them to use the kiosks," she says.
Ms Thompson says attacks on beneficiary privacy by Social Development Minister Paula Bennett, as well as last year’s security breach, mean many beneficiaries may feel wary about using the kiosks.
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