In the next (Feb 2018) sitting of federal parliament is a new legislative bill on cashless welfare cards that proposes the following changes: the bill will remove section 124 pf of Social Security Administration Act, in order to:
- remove limits on number of cashless card locations
- remove limits on numbers of potential welfare recipients to be placed on cashless cards
- and to wipe any end date to card trials- therefore making the cashless welfare cards into a permanent measure.
Over the Wall speaks to Australian Unemployed Workers Union President, Owen Bennet about:
- Describing the current campaigns to oppose the cashless card.
- How do cashless cards remove flexibility from people to manage their income and also unexpected expenses and travel?
- The Labor government said it would oppose cashless cards in electorates where community didn't support the trials? Did this promise occur? Or were the consultation processes flawed?
- AOD (ALCOHOL OTHER DRUG) funding of services has increased in cashless card trial electorates. Could this be a tactical funding measure to ensure the trial areas have better AOD service outcomes compared to areas with no cashless cards where services aren't being funded sufficiently?
- Why not increase AOD funding in non trial areas as well seems the obvious question to also ask our politicians? What do you think?
- 80 percent of people's welfare payments are placed onto a cashless card that can only be used at certain retailers and banning alcohol purchases- how can people show at local markets op shops and pay rent as cash?
- There have been statistical reports showing increase in crime in areas of the cashless card- can this be a direct result of a drastic alteration to 80 percent of their income going onto the card?
- Is there an agenda to make cashless cards universal?
Website campaign details
https://greens.org.au/cashless
http://unemployedworkersunion.com/
https://www.facebook.com/unemployedworkersunion/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1923626961258263/
https://www.facebook.com/notowelfarecard/
Peter Davis and Duncan Graham