" Under his leadership, Steve Maharey said that the culture of extravagance in Winz would go — nothing has changed. He said that Christine Rankin should go — yet she is leading his fresh start. He said that there would be a greater employment focus for Winz — yet the total employment funding for Winz remained static in the Budget.
" The key problem remains. The culture of WINZ and its ongoing problems will not change while Christine Rankin is in charge. It is like trying to relaunch the Fire Service afresh under Roger Estall.
" The Minister's claimed initiative to move to greater employment flexibility and responsibility for Regional Commissioners was the previous Government's plan when Winz was created. However, this did not happen because when Winz was set up it was not a merger of Employment and Income Support but a take-over by Income Support. As the Hunn Report concluded, the employment expertise and focus was lost because of this take-over…"
— Dr Muriel Newman, ACT Social Welfare Spokesperson

" Steve Maharey should be embarrassed by his insipid response to the Hunn report on management structures within Winz. When Mr Maharey first met with Christine Rankin he emerged saying they'd put the past behind them and he'd clearly outlined his "expectations" of her. Six months and an expensive review later he's saying exactly the same thing.
" The only piece of new information Mr Maharey has provided as a result of the costly report is that he intends to give increased flexibility to WINZ's Regional Commissioners. That comes less than a week after he dis-empowered those Regional Commissioners by stripping the Community Employment Group away from Winz and placing it under the Department of Labour. That move has stripped regional Winz offices of $26 million in funding, and a significant tool for creating jobs locally…"
— Belinda Vernon, National Party Work and Income spokesperson

" The Government's response to the Hunn Report into Winz is on the right track. While there is much that needs fixing inside Winz, I am heartened that Steve Maharey has recognised the need for the department to work much more co-operatively with community groups and advocates of the unemployed. It is high time that beneficiary advocacy groups were acknowledged for the expertise and positive input they can have on helping to improve Winz policies and operations.
" The focus from Winz since its formation has been more on paying benefits than on finding jobs for people. I am pleased that the Community Employment function of the department is to transfer to the Department of Labour. The Community Employment Group, and the groups with which it works, have suffered immensely since it was restructured into the Winz conglomerate. I hope that this shift to the Department of Labour will revive and strengthen its potential to assist with grassroots community economic development and job creation projects …"
— Sue Bradford Green Party Social Services spokesperson