Results from the Government’s trial of a cashless welfare card in local government areas prone to suffering the anti-social scourges of excessive alcohol consumption and gambling losses have proved successful.
Independent evaluation finds cashless welfare card reduces grog, gambling & drugs. See report here: https://t.co/SihRMF7kem
— Alan Tudge (@AlanTudgeMP) August 31, 2017
The cashless debit card trials were introduced in Ceduna and in East Kimberley communities for a period of 12 months, following escalating concerns that alcohol abuse and related violence, especially spousal domestic violence, in the largely indigenous communities, had reached a an epidemic stage. Under the trials, 80 per cent of all welfare payments are placed in an account accessible only through a Visa debit card, which is locked from use in liquor stores and gambling venues, as well as preventing cash withdrawals.
The report, essentially an evaluation of the trial, by ORIMA research, and confirmed by the Minister for Human Services, the Hon Alan Tudge MP, has found there to be positive health and social outcomes, almost without precedent. Almost 50 per cent of the 2,141 welfare recipients in the remote trail communities of East Kimberley in Western Australia and Ceduna, South Australia reported significantly cutting their drinking, drug and gambling dependence. Around 41 per cent of drinkers said they drank alcohol less frequently, and there was a corresponding 14 per cent reduction in arrests for public intoxication.
The trials, which began in April and May 2016, will pave the way for the Government to expand the mandatory participation into other communities. The Minister trumpeted the trial, saying “we are hoping it is the beginning of the turnaround”. Although cautious to concede that “the card is not a panacea” to fix all social indigenous issues, but it has led to improved outcomes.
The Opposition Leader said this week Canberra should not be fixing outcomes for communities, saying “there’s no doubt that there’s concern in the community about the prevalence of ice and other drugs of addiction, but let’s also recognise, unless the community wants to do this cashless welfare card, it won’t work. The other thing I’ve got to make very clear here is that if you’re going to try and encourage people to break drugs of addiction, alcohol or other drugs of addiction, you need to make sure you’ve got the rehab facilities.’’
