Controversial cashless debit card won’t be made compulsory in the NT
THE controversial cashless welfare card will be extended for two years and not be made compulsory in the NT after the federal government failed to win support to make the scheme permanent
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THE controversial cashless welfare card will be extended for two years and not be made compulsory in the NT after the federal government failed to win support to make the scheme permanent.
The Senate sat late on Wednesday night to debate legislation which aimed to make the cashless debit card permanent across four trial sites in WA, SA and QLD.
The bill also sought to transition about 23,000 Territorians on the BasicsCard – a program introduced during the 2007 Northern Territory intervention – to the cashless debit card.
The bill appeared to be likely to be voted down on Wednesday night after crossbench senators Rex Patrick, and Jacqui Lambie said the would oppose the bill but some last-minute amendments saw the trial extended by two years instead.
The amendments also mean the cashless debit card will now be optional for people on the BasicsCard in the Northern Territory.
ocial Services Minister Anne Ruston put forward the amendments to try to win over Centre Alliance Senator Stirling Griff who abstained from voting, allowing the vote to pass by one.
“This amendment does not change our commitment; it simply means we have more work to do to in the future to convince the parliament they should support this program on a permanent basis too,” Ms Ruston said.
NT Senator Malarndirri McCarthy said she was disappointed the bill had not been defeated and slammed Senator Griff for abstaining from the vote.
“This is a complete betrayal of the people of the NT by Country Alliance,” she said. “People may say that’s politics. But what it really says is how desperate the Government is to keep this card. Like the cowards that you are, you’ve scurried off and made the deals.”
Cashless debit cards (CDCs) hold 80 per cent of a recipient’s welfare, ensuring it can only be spent via debit on items deemed essential by the Government. They are prevented from purchasing alcohol and gambling products.
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