Federal election Hinkler candidates on the cashless card

It’s one of the hottest issues in Hinkler. Should the cashless card trial be scrapped? With three weeks until the federal election, each local candidate has revealed their position on the issue. Read what they said and vote in the poll.

The Cashless Debit Card trial is one of the Hinkler region’s hottest topics, with much of the community polarised on the income management strategy.

The concept behind Hinkler‘s cashless card trial was born in August 2014 when WA mining magnate Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest released a report for the Federal Government suggesting a cashless card system to improve indigenous employment.

By March 2015, the government announced it would be trialled in some communities later that year.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, Alan Tudge, said at the time the overall aim was to reduce violence, especially towards women.

But in an indication of what was to come, the card was also met with fierce opposition.

The Australian Council of Social Service lashed out at the card and said it went against expert advice, and that similar schemes had proven expensive.

The first trial was approved in Ceduna, South Australia and over time, into other small communities. Ceduna Mayor Allan Suter had praised the card, saying it had a “positive impact” on the community.

In March 2017, an audit showed that the card had reduced rates of drug use and gambling, but also that some had found ways to make cash outside of the scheme, such as through prostitution.

Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest came up with the idea of the cashless card. Picture Gary Ramage

With funding in the budget for the trial to be extended to two more communities, Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt called for the card to be brought to Hinkler.

At the time, then Labor state MP for Bundaberg Leanne Donaldson led a petition against the plan.

Opposition groups started to form, including the No Cashless Debit Card Australia group.

In May 2018, the cashless card was approved for a trial in Bundaberg and Hervey Bay, meaning some people on government benefits, mainly job seekers under a certain age, would have most of their benefits quarantined to a card that could not be used for alcohol or gambling.

When the Bundaberg NewsMail commissioned an independent survey regarding the card by way of a ReachTel poll, 637 residents were quizzed on their support for or objection to the cashless card.

A majority of 53.5 per cent said they supported the card, with 27.8 per cent opposed and 18.7 per cent feeling neutral.

Of the card‘s supporters, 37.6 per cent were found to show “strong” support.

Support and opposition for the card has continued to bubble away ever since, with community leaders such as St Vinnies‘ head Dr John Falzon calling the card “humiliating”, while politicians in areas where it has been trialled saying that children have been the winners overall.

With such a contentious issue happening right in our region, we asked the Hinkler candidates for their take on the card.

Namely, if they agree with it and what they plan to do should they come to power.

The candidates are listed by surname according to alphabetical order.

Jack Dempsey is running as an independent. Pic John Wilson

Jack Dempsey - Independent

Do you agree with the Cashless Debit Card?

No.

Depending on your answer above, what will you do to either continue or discontinue the trial of the card?

If I'm elected, I’ll have a mandate to scrap the card in Hinkler. I’ll advocate to the government and vote against any legislation related to the card that comes before the House of Representatives. I’ll also lobby senators to oppose it.

If there's hung Parliament, it will be one of my non-negotiable conditions for supporting either side, to scrap the card.

Do you perceive any benefits of the cashless card?

There may be marginal cash management benefits for some people, but no adult should be told by the government how to manage their funds, regardless of the source. I support the government‘s investment in social support services, but this should be happening anyhow and there should be more of it.

Do you perceive any negatives of the cashless card?

People are being discriminated against and segregated from mainstream society. Many can't get rental accommodation in a tight market where more than 70 people apply for every vacancy, forcing them to leave the area. It’s like a form of social cleansing and it’s un-Australian.

If you have had feedback from the community, what has it overwhelmingly suggested about public opinion on the card?

The feedback that I‘ve received is overwhelmingly against the card. At the beginning, many people were prepared to see if it worked, now they know it’s made no difference. The problems that existed three years ago still exist today. The card has been very divisive. We’re a caring community and social division is contrary to the principle of giving everyone a fair go.

Andrew McLean - Greens

Do you agree with the Cashless Debit Card?

No! The Greens are the only party to consistently oppose the Cashless Debit Card, and have successfully prevented the trial from being made permanent.

Depending on your answer above, what will you do to either continue or discontinue the trial of the card?

The Greens will continue to use our position in Parliament to get this unfair income management system scrapped, reform Centrelink to provide payments above the poverty line, and properly fund social services.

Do you perceive any benefits of the cashless card?

Any benefits promised have failed to eventuate. This card, like all forms of compulsory income management, has never been shown to reduce disadvantage or tackle addiction.

Do you perceive any negatives of the cashless card?

The cashless debit card prevents people from accessing cash economies to buy second hand or shop at community markets, drives stigma and shame, and further marginalises the most vulnerable people in our community including First Nations people, homeless people and people dealing with mental health or substance addiction.

If you have had feedback from the community, what has it overwhelmingly suggested about public opinion on the card?

People want solutions to things like poverty and substance addiction, but they know this card is not the answer.

Instead of punishing poor people, the Greens would double Commonwealth funding for alcohol and drug treatment, bring mental health under Medicare and expand the number of psychologist placements so everyone can access the help they need.

Zak Menhennett is running for Hinkler for One Nation.

Zak Menhennett - One Nation

Do you agree with the Cashless Debit Card?

The Cashless Debit Card was brought to the table by the LNP and voted in by Labor. I agree with the specific purpose the card was introduced for and that was solely 18 to 35-year-old long term unemployed. I don’t support any extension of the card or for any other purpose.

Depending on your answer above, what will you do to either continue or discontinue the trial of the card?

Not everyone falls under the same situation, welfare should be done on a case by case basis because everyone’s circumstances are different and not treated as a “one size fits all solution”.

Do you perceive any benefits of the cashless card?

Welfare was only ever meant to be a temporary safety net or a ‘hand up’ when you fell on hard times, as a temporary solution to an ideally temporary situation in the areas where the community reached out for more assistance.

Do you perceive any negatives of the cashless card?

Any situation longer than short term I personally wouldn’t enjoy it. That’s why I believe welfare should be done on a case by case basis and as I said before it shouldn’t be a one size fits all solution.

If you have had feedback from the community, what has it overwhelmingly suggested about public opinion on the card?

In the various consultations I’ve had around all areas of our electorate with many different people, business owners, employed, under employed and unemployed, the majority of people do appear to support the card, if elected I would seek and hold public consultations and get as much input from the community to guide how I represented the majority of constituents on the floor of parliament.

Kristie Nash is running for Hinkler for UAP.

Kristie Nash - United Australia Party

UAP candidate Kristie Nash did not respond to the NewsMail’s specific questions, but released a statement on the cashless card shortly after.

According to Ms Nash, the United Australia Party will remove the Cashless Debit Card unless it is deemed by a social worker that it remains beneficial for someone to continue using the CDC service.

Additionally, Ms Nash believes those who want to remain on the card should have the option to continue using the CDC service.

“I’m strongly focused on getting to the root causes of disadvantage in our community,” she said.

“However, I can see a place for a short-medium term intervention like the CDC for families that are in serious crisis, if the card is successful in protecting children”.

Ms Nash said many in the community were unhappy about the card.

“The feedback I’ve received from many Hinkler residents who are currently on the CDC trial is that they are not happy with it,” she said.

“I’ve listened to that feedback and our party has taken a clear position that those people should be removed from the card, unless it is deemed necessary by a social worker that they remain on the card for the welfare of their family”.

Ms Nash said while some had been placed on the guard through no fault of their own, “we cannot overlook the reasons this card came about – reports of children being neglected, living in filthy conditions, welfare payments being used for gambling or addictions – these issues are still relevant for some members of our community”.

“This card came about for a reason, we can’t just remove the card from our welfare system and forget about the issues that led to the card in the first place,” she said.

“In situations where people’s welfare is at risk, the card still has a place in our society, but for people who are not at risk, the CDC is an unnecessary burden on their lives.”

LNP incumbent MP Keith Pitt. Photo: AAP.

Keith Pitt - LNP

Keith Pitt did not answer the specific questions, but provided the following statement:

“The anecdotal evidence shows that the Cashless Debit Card is having a positive impact on our community and I will continue to support the trial in Hinkler,” he said.

“It is a tough, but necessary policy and if it means children are going to school with lunch and they are being provided with the essentials of life, then in my view, it is working.

“There is a very small group of people who are ideologically opposed to the card and it is their democratic right to their views.

“The Labor party offer no alternative to the Cashless Debit Card and would rather do nothing. I am for doing something and the Cashless Debit Card is just one tool in the toolbox to help with what are often very complex issues.

“The Coalition Government has recently invested $4.7 million in five local organisations in the Hinkler electorate to help Cashless Debit Card participants get into the workforce, and this is on top of the support services offered by Impact and the Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre since the trial began.”

Jason Scanes - Labor

Jason Scanes did not answer the questions specifically, but provided the following statement:

“Labor will scrap the privatised cashless debit card,” he said.

“The Federal Government is currently paying a private company millions of dollars each year just to manage people on this card. This is money that could be spent in our local economy and supporting businesses in Hinkler.

“We know our most vulnerable have been doing it tough through nearly 10 years of failures by the LNP Government.

“That's why Labor will make no apologies for highlighting this issue.

“Both Scott Morrison and Anne Ruston as social services minister have talked about applying the cashless welfare card more broadly and Scott Morrison has stated previously that the age pension is not an entitlement, it’s ‘welfare’.”