Ceduna mayor urges colleagues around the country to adopt a cashless welfare card
ALAN Suter has called for a national roll out of a controversial cashless welfare card, saying a ‘transformed’ Ceduna would be up in arms if the system was rolled back.
CEDUNA Mayor Allan Suter is urging councils across the nation to adopt a controversial cashless welfare card that he says has transformed his town.
As debate rages in Canberra about expanding trials that lock 80 per cent of welfare payments on to a debit card that cannot be used for alcohol or gambling, Mr Suter said the regime should be embraced by more towns and suburbs across Australia.
“I have spoken to a lot of mayors and have said ‘If you are having issues with problems caused by excessive alcohol or drugs, you need the card’,” Mr Suter said.
“If someone tried to cut it down here (in Ceduna) now, there would be a riot.
“I hope that it continues for a very long time.”
Mr Suter, a long-time supporter of the trial that began in Ceduna in 2016, told The Advertiser he believed 94 per cent of Ceduna residents, including leaders of the Aboriginal community who prefer to remain anonymous, supported the card.
The mayor is concerned a Bill Shorten-led government would, if elected, scrap the card when the trial is set to finish in June next year.
Federal Opposition social services spokeswoman Linda Burney said Labor has consistently opposed the card rollout.
“Labor supports evidence-based, community-driven approaches to tackling alcohol abuse and family violence, and reducing social harm,” Ms Burney said.
“Labor has consistently opposed a national rollout of the cashless debit card ... because of a lack of evidence and a lack of community support.”
Ms Burney said Labor “will consider the evidence and consult further with the community” before making a decision.
In July, a report by federal Auditor-General Grant Hehir was critical of how the Social Services Department was monitoring the effectiveness of the trial.
“As a consequence, it is difficult to conclude whether there had been a reduction in social harm, ” Mr Hehir said.
Mr Suter said Ms Burney needed to visit the area before taking a firm position.
“She has never been in here,” he said.
“But she has a predetermined set on it. And that is not right. I just hope they don’t shut it down.”
Federal Grey MP Rowan Ramsay yesterday backed Mr Suter’s calls, arguing the card has resulted in reductions in drug use, alcohol consumption, gambling, crime and hospital admissions.