Keith Pitt calls on Federal Government to offer alternative to indue card

There are more than 6400 people on the cashless debit card across Bundaberg and Hervey Bay, and Hinkler MP Keith Pitt has demanded to know how the Federal Government will help these communities once the card is scrapped.

Coalition MP Keith Pitt has called on the Albanese Government to provide answers on how it will help people in Bundaberg and Hervey Bay once the Cashless Debit Card is scrapped.

It comes after the labor government announced the card would be scrapped in September 2022 under laws to be brought to Parliament. The controversial scheme was introduced by the Liberal government in 2016.

There are more than 6400 people are on the cashless debit card across the Bundaberg and Hervey Bay area.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks during Question Time at Parliament House on Thursday, July 28, 2022 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Martin Ollman/Getty Images)

Mr Pitt said the Cashless Debit Card had helped address long-standing issues in the community.

Labor made an election promise to stop the Cashless Debit Card program but had never offered an alternative solution to help struggling communities, he said.

Families and Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth used to the new Parliament‘s first full sitting to table the bill.

“The bill will enable more than 17,000 existing cashless debit card participants to be progressively transitioned off the card as soon as the bill receives royal assent,” she told the ABC.

Our absolute priority is to ensure participants are supported through their transition off the card in a safe and structured way,“ she said.

Mr Pitt said Labor had “well and truly put the cart before the horse”.

“They said they’d consult with communities before making change, but they have not said how they will address the complex issues that each of the Cashless Debit Card trial sites face,” he said.

“I’ve said many times that Cashless Debit Card is not a silver bullet, it’s just one tool in the toolbox to help our communities, and it has had a positive impact: children are going to school with lunch and are getting the essentials and rent rolls are being paid.

“It’s not acceptable to me, or the community I represent, if Labor decides to just do nothing.

“The Albanese Government also needs to explain what will happen to the $30 million Jobs Fund and Job Ready Package which was to upskill Cashless Debit Card participants to help them secure employment.”

Coalition MPs have weighed in on the proposed scrapping of the cashless debit card and how it would affect their communities.