Whale Oil has blogged about David Shearer and his beneficiary roof painter story, with an emphasis being put on ‘story’:

Shearer Admits Rufus Paynter Is Ergh..Maybe… Not Real

Can we believe if what MPs are telling us, is true or a descriptive story? Maybe they should be open and honest.

From the draft transcript from parliament yesterday. Is ‘Wendy’ the ex wife of Rufus the painter?:

Dr DAVID CLARK (Labour—Dunedin North): I move, That the Minimum Wage Amendment Bill be now read a first time. If it becomes apparent during the debate that scales have fallen from sufficient National members’ eyes and the Minimum Wage Amendment Bill has the necessary support, I will nominate the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee to consider the bill.

I want to start by telling the story of a woman I met recently. We will call her Wendy. Wendy is up at 4 a.m. and off to her first cleaning job. She works two jobs. She is home at 6 p.m. and tuckered out.

Wendy does not smoke and she does not drink.

Wendy cannot afford luxuries, and for her that now includes heating her house.

She recently suffered a broken leg on the job, and receiving 80 percent of her wage whilst off work meant she could not meet her rent. This proud woman, who has successfully raised six kids, mostly on her own, had to rely on assistance from a family member for help.

The story does not stop there. Wendy still has one kid at home—a teenager with hollow legs.

Feeding her family comes first, but, as a diabetic, her health is suffering in the long term. Her doctor tells her she should eat a more balanced diet. She knows what that is, but can no longer afford the ingredients. White bread is cheaper than brown bread.

Wendy is on the minimum wage and has worked all her life. Restrictions on adult and community training mean she cannot afford to retrain.

She fears she will one day have to reside in a boarding house.

A minimum wage of $15 an hour will mean $60 a week for our lowest-paid workers over a 40-hour week.