Claims that Labor is frightening aged pension card holders over cashless card

Elderly residents on the Central Coast have been sent a letter from the local Labor MP warning they would be put on a Cashless Benefits Card.

Labor has been accused of running a “Mediscare-style’’ scare campaign on the Central Coast after a local MP claimed that Prime Minister Scott Morrison would put age pensioners on a Cashless Debit Card, despite the government explicitly saying it had no plans to do so.

Last month, elderly voters in the Dobell electorate received a letter from local Labor MP Emma McBride warning that “there are thousands of pensioners across the Coast at risk of being forced on to the Cashless Debit Card”.

“This is a heartless plan by the Morrison government to limit and control how you spend your money … if this scheme goes ahead, 80 per cent of your pension will be forced on to the Cashless Debit Card which can only be used at shops approved by the Government,” the letter continued.

Other Labor MPs repeated the accusation in a series of social media posts.

Labor MP Emma McBride says hundreds of pensioners are at risk of being put on the cashless cards.

A cashless debit card.

On December 1, Fiona Phillips, who represents the south coast seat of Gilmore, posted on Facebook: “The Morrison Government’s real intent is to roll the Cashless Debit Card out further to all ‘welfare’ recipients, including age pensioners.”

On the same day, Queensland Labor MP Brittany Laura told followers of her Facebook page that “the LNP’s plan to expand the card and force pensioners onto it means the government would be able to control where pensioners and vulnerable Aussies spend 80% of their income.”

However, as far back as July Families and Social Services Minister Anne Ruston wrote directly to Labor leader Anthony Albanese saying claims that age pensioners would be put on a benefits card were “wrong” and that assertions to the contrary were “blatant lies”.

Social Services Minister Anne Ruston says Labor’s claims are wrong. Picture: Amanda Parkinson

“The Labor Party is lying to older Australians and, in a downright shameful act, attempting to scare them into voting Labor,” Ms Ruston told The Daily Telegraph.

“Let me be crystal clear, the Morrison government has no plan and will never have a plan to force age pensioners on to the Cashless Debit Card,” she said.

“Labor knows that this government has no plan to force age pensioners onto the Cashless Debit Card, but they’re up to their older tricks and would rather score cheap political points at the expense of older Australians instead of coming clean with their own policies ahead of the election.”

Lucy Wicks, who holds the Central Coast seat of Robertson for the Coalition, said she had been contacted by a number of older Australians concerned about Labor’s claims.

“I’ve had dozens of emails and calls from across the Central Coast from seniors who are worried sick by these lies. It doesn’t get much lower than trying to scare pensioners into voting for you, using an outright lie,” she said.

“These are some of our most vulnerable senior Australians who have helped build our nation into what it is today. The ALP should be ashamed of itself. I’ve seen some low acts in politics, but this would have to take the cake.”