Cashless Debit Card Abolished: Ceduna’s Cashless Debit Card program, according to a social worker, did not live up to its potential and should have been scrapped. Some in the towns where the Cashless Debit Card (CDC) for welfare clients was trialed after a damning report have welcomed it. An examination by Australia’s National Audit Office found that this initiative failed to meet its declared objectives.
When new federal Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth stated that briefings had been held to explore closing down the CDC, she highlighted the findings. She said that “more than $170 million was invested on a private Cashless Debit Card, money that should have gone toward local services.” Since 2016, Ceduna in South Australia has been testing the CDC, which cannot be used to directly buy alcohol or gamble. The CDC has also been tried in the goldfields of Western Australia and the Northern Territory. In Ceduna, the strategy has polarised opinions, with incumbent politicians applauding it and front-line service providers criticizing it.
The “amazing” potential of this device is hidden by problems
Although there were high expectations when the card was originally introduced, Michele Jacobsen, a social worker in Ceduna for more than a decade, says that soon after, cracks began to develop. According to Ms. Jacobsen, once the teething problems were worked out, people who suffered from the problems the card was supposed to solve saw “wonderful benefits.” “However, the card disadvantaged a group that was not concerned about these issues.” According to Ms. Jacobsen, the vast majority of persons on the card situation did not improve. It won’t work if you don’t address why people need to be on such a closely restricted card, she continued. For anything, there are always workarounds.
In the case of social workers, there is “No Training”
“Some people will sell their cashless debit money for less cash, such as “I’ll give you $150 in exchange for $100 cash.” They were in desperate need of money, yet their desire for it outweighed their actual need. Despite the fact that social workers did not have direct access to Indue, the bank that housed restricted earnings, Ms. Jacobsen said social workers had to act as “middlemen” between clients and Indue. She claimed that in order to assist the client, “we had to go through three persons.”
“We lacked resources and training, and we’re not even officially employed by the bank. “The client was requested to provide an email address as well as a phone number. Many of our clients would be unable to access them for a variety of reasons. “It’s a pity that all of this card-related infrastructure was built only to be dismantled. It’s a total squander of funds.” As part of the Cashless Debit Card program, a portion of your income support payments will be put into an interest-bearing, fee-free account. To make purchases, go into your online banking account with your Cashless Debit Card and tap to pay with your smartphone.
The MP wants the CDC to grow
The Liberal MP for Ceduna, Rowan Ramsey, expressed his displeasure with the government’s plans to abolish the CDC. According to Mr. Ramsey, “my general conversation on the ground” in Ceduna is that it is having an impact. There’s nothing wrong with starting this or that doesn’t work, but I’m not sure anyone knows what to do next if the supports that are already in place are removed. The CDC, in his perspective, has been a great success, and he would want to see it enlarged. He finds it sad that it hasn’t expanded more extensively across the country. “I’m intrigued to see if they accounted for public sentiment in the… audit report, even if I haven’t read it yet.
The Queen signed a bill into law on December 17, 2020, to expand the usage of cashless welfare. Because of the Act’s provisions, residents of East Kimberley, Ceduna, Goldfields, Bundaberg, and Hervey Bay will be eligible to use the Cashless Debit Card until December 31, 2022. Call the Cashless Debit Card helpline at 1800 252 604 (free call) to learn more about the Cashless Debit Card program or to see if you qualify to move from the Basics Card to the Cashless Debit Card.
Anyone with a Visa Debit Card is eligible for this Deal
The program is open to all welfare beneficiaries in the Ceduna region, the Goldfields region, and the East Kimberley region. Volunteers on the Age Pension are encouraged to apply. It is offered to Bundaberg and Hervey Bay residents under the age of 35 who receive JobSeeker Payment, Youth Allowance (Job seeker), Parenting Payment (Partnered), or Parenting Payment (Single) (Single). Volunteers who are over the age of 35 or who receive the Age Pension are eligible to participate.
The program has been directed to residents in the Cape York region of Queensland by the Family Responsibilities Commission. Those receiving the Age Pension are encouraged to volunteer. The Cashless Debit Card system is available to both Income Management participants and qualified income assistance clients who have volunteered for the program in the Northern Territory. In the Northern Territory, the Cashless Debit Card can now be used on the same day. Visit a local service center or call 1800 252 604 for a free Cashless Debit Card hotline.
Please let us know if you’d like to be a part of the Cashless Debit Card initiative!
Volunteers for the Cashless Debit Card can now join up in the Northern Territory and the Cape York region, at locations such as Doomadgee, Bundaberg, and Hervey Bay, where qualified income support recipients can also sign up. To find out if you qualify for the Cashless Debit Card, call 1800 252 604 (toll-free). Age Pension holders who want to engage in the Cashless Debit Card scheme can do so.
Where is the Cashless Debit Card program currently being implemented?
The effort presently includes the Goldfields and East Kimberley regions of Australia, as well as Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, and a number of Cape York localities, including Doomadgee (Queensland) and the Northern Territory. The Cashless Debit Card scheme has been in place in Queensland’s Cape York region and the Northern Territory as a whole since March 2021.
What is the purpose of the Cashless Debit Card?
The Cashless Debit Card has no effect on how much money people receive from Services Australia (Centrelink) or how they spend it. Participants in the Ceduna, Goldfields, East Kimberley, Bundaberg, and Harvey Bay districts of the Cashless Debit Card program receive: They receive 20% of their welfare stipend in their regular bank account. Around 80% of their monthly welfare payout will be received via the Cashless Debit Card.
This calculator can be used by residents of the Ceduna, Goldfields, East Kimberley, Bundaberg, and Harvey Bay regions to determine how much money they can put on their Cashless Debit Card each week. In the Northern Territory, users of Cashless Debit Cards will get a payment split identical to those who previously received Income Management payments. Participants in the Northern Territory’s Cashless Debit Card program enjoy the following benefits: They receive half of their welfare payment in their regular bank account. Their welfare payments will be split 50/50 between the Cashless Debit Card and the Cashless Debit Card.
How much of an impact will the Cashless Debit Card have on business operations?
You will not need to opt-in to accept the Cashless Debit Card, and most businesses will not need to make any modifications. Except for locations that primarily sell alcohol or gambling products, this card will be accepted at all EFTPOS terminals across the country.
