yarndy's video: ELECTION 2022: Scomo s Government Will Never Use The Cashless Debit Card On Pensioners - April 2022

Anne Ruston the Minister for Families and Social Services in the Morrison Government "We're seeking, as I said, to put all income management onto the universal platform which is the Cashless Debit Card" - Federal Government To Expand Australia's Cashless Welfare Card System... Links Bottom Of Page - QUESTION: Well given that success, does the Government intend to roll this out nationally and make it compulsory for all welfare recipients? ANNE RUSTON: Well I think the conversation that we need to have is about the value of the card, the advantages of the card. The new technology has been a real game changer in the ability for the card to actually provide additional value to participants. I think initially there was a very strong view that the card was around dealing with gambling, alcohol and drug-related social harm in community. But what we've seen with the change in technology is it actually has become a financial budgeting tool so that people on low incomes can manage their budget by making sure, like as in the case of Nicole, her payments for her car come out of her payment in her Cashless Debit Card every fortnight. So, what we're seeking to do is to say to the people whilst there is the benefit of social harm reduction that we're hoping will continue there is a broader application for the whole community and something that we would like to have a conversation with them about. QUESTION: So do you plan to make it compulsory at some point? ANNE RUSTON: Well, I'm not going to pre-empt that. I think this is the start of a consultation. I mean, we've run a number of trial sites. We're seeking, as I said, to put all income management onto the universal platform which is the Cashless Debit Card, and I think then the conversation needs to be had about what are the advantages of this card. And it's up to us, as a government, to go and sell those advantages in the hope that the Australian community will see the value of it. QUESTION: What do you say to those that still do though have some criticism toward the cashless card? ANNE RUSTON: Well as I said, one of the big criticisms was the stigmatisation of the card and I think that we're addressing that. One of the other things was the universal functionality of the card and I think technology is allowing us to deal with that. So, what I would seek to do over the coming weeks and months is to talk to people about what their concerns are because I think many of them are going to be able to be addressed, and that's the point of a trial and getting out and consulting, getting your results back in, and then responding to them. QUESTION: Some are saying that the trials across the country weren't as successful as the Government was spruiking. I mean, what do you have to say? ANNE RUSTON: Look, certainly the evidence that I have received myself shows some very positive signs. The difficulty of collating information often makes it difficult to get sort of a like for like analysis in terms of geographical area. We lead information from states, from the local governments, from the local businesses - it's not always that easy to get together. But what we have got so far, I think, is showing very encouraging signs. But I think what we want to do is to go back with that information, talk to the communities, talk to the Australian public more broadly and actually have a sensible conversation about concerns and see if we can actually deal with them. QUESTION: There are some groups who say it's discriminatory and inhumane and are questioning why it's been rolled out nationally. What's your response? ANNE RUSTON: Well, we haven't said that we're rolling it out nationally. We want a conversation. I would say that we just need to speak to the people who are actually on the card and find out what their experience is. And, as I said, when you actually get out there and speak to people who are on the card, their experience are largely positive. I mean sure, there are still those that make negative comments about it, but what I'd say is: tell me what your concerns are and let's see if we can address them. Because if we can give people on low incomes a budget management tool that enables them to better budgets so that they can look after themselves, their families and be better members of the community and just generally make their life and their well-being better, then I think we should be investing in that. LINKS - Federal government set to expand Australia's cashless welfare card system | 7NEWS Feb 2020: https://youtu.be/ty9bFplIG74 Transcripts - Cashless Debit Card - Doorstop Interview: https://ministers.dss.gov.au/transcripts/5476