Cashless Welfare Card

[moonflyte]

Could this be the end of the tragedy of alcohol fueled violence and child neglect.

A cashless welfare card aimed at stemming alcohol abuse would be rolled out across the country under a welfare reform the Turnbull government is considering taking to the election.

As regional trouble spots line up to be chosen for trials of the government’s new Healthy Welfare Card to begin next month, The Australian understands the Coalition may seek an election mandate to extend the card to welfare recipients across regional Australia if they achieve positive results.

Under the new system — proposed by mining magnate ­Andrew Forrest in his review of the welfare system in 2014 — 80 per cent of a person’s government payment would be ­quarantined to a bank card that could not be used to buy alcohol and gambling products, nor ­converted to cash.

The remaining 20 per cent could be accessible as cash.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/national-cashless-welfare-card-plan-by-turnbull-gov...

[chameleon54]

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@***super_nova*** wrote:

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@chameleon54 wrote:

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I find it unfortunate that many hide behind a facade of political correctness and fail to understand or acknowledge that there are major problems with the current Social welfare system.

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Political Correctness?  What does that has to do with anything?

This card will be only another expensive disaster, just like privatising the job agencies is.  "Refining" generally means complicating, and making it an expensive nightmare to administer.

"Welfare major problems" are mainly fiction spouted by the shock jocks.  Could thing be done better, sure they could be; to start with the government should take back control of the privatised job centres.  But why is it necessary to attack the people who are so unfortunate that they have to be trying to survive on those measly payments?

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Super Nova - We do have some common ground. I totally agree with you that Job search networks should be taken back under the umbrella of the public service. Outsourcing of this system has been a total disaster and has been one source of corruption and mis-use of taxpayers money.

I dont know where you live or who you associate with, but is a different segment of society to me. I live in an area with high unemployment and neighbours who live in public housing. I see " major problems " with the welfare system close up and personal.

My son with mental health problems socialises with young people on benefits. They come to my house regularly. I drive them to parties and social outings. Some have issues and will always struggle to find and maintain employment. ( genuine recipients )  Other young people have simply just chosen the " surfing Lifestyle " in favour of getting out of bed and working. We have encouraged and supported our son to maintain regular employment, but it is a struggle when most of his mates are unemployed. 

I also live next to some of societies more troubled people ( including a pedophile in neighbouring public housing at one point. Our daughter was ten years old at the time ) who definately need understanding and support. My wife is blind and recieves a small partial benefit and travel allowance from centrelink. We mix socially with other people with similar issues and both volunteer  to play music at times for large groups of severly intellectually disabled people. All of this has given me a good insight into the welfare system and the lifestyles of those who rely on it..

I stand by my comments that welfare fraud is endemic and this is having major negative impacts on those who genuinly need our support.

[chameleon54]

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@***super_nova*** wrote:

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@chameleon54 wrote:

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@djilukjilly wrote:

I suppose a lot kicked off the DSS were the middle eastern drug  families and others of that ilk. I don’t have any objection to that.

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I know of one gentleman who was kicked off of the disability support pension. He claimed to have a bad back, but had a large shed at the rear of his house. He ran a boat repair business doing fibreglass recoats and building canoes. He is not on disability support any more, but still claims unemployment benefits. All the boat stuff is in cash, so there is no records to trip him up on. 

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 You seem to know awful lot of people who are dishonest, and know lots intimate details about them, friends are they?   This guy is committing fraud against DSS, and defrauding ATO, and one day they will catch him and he will have to pay heaps back with interest, and very likely ends up in jail. 

But that has nothing to do with the rest of people who get benefits for which they are eligible. 

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Super Nova - Please refer to above post. I live in this enviroment every day. AND YOU ???

[chameleon54]

AND YOU ???  Maybe its Latte time  

Friends are they ?   As it happens yes, a large number of my friends are on benefits. As mentioned we play music. Mainly blues and a bit of rock. Many of the local musicians that we jam with are unemployed. Some for genuine reasons, others just cos it beats working.

When we owned a couple of small busineses we employed several of the local " unemployables. " These where the people no one would give a job too. One was an alcholic, one had a history of drug use and another just came from a "bad " family and had three kids from three different fathers. All where trying to rebuild their lives and gave it a red hot go. They worked hard and yes there where problems, but one managed to stay on the straight and narrow and now owns his own little shack and has a small painting business. This is a huge success for an orphan boy who went through the orphan house and abusive adoption roundabout as a child.

Although the other two didnt quite make it, I regard them all as Friends.  

[latina4621]

Is this also going to create more violence within the family home?

I believe it will, i can't understand how the govt. will think this will work, i think it will make things worse than what they are now

[latina4621]

People drawing the age pension will not be forced onto the restrictions, but they would have the option to volunteer for the cashless card

"Now this means that most people will still have between about $60 and $150 of cash per week, depending on their family circumstances

The Coalition is also in talks with Halls Creek and Kununurra  in Western Australia about taking part in the trial.

The Government had approached the New South Wales town of Moree, but the local council rejected the idea.

[latina4621]

that post was from ceduna where the trial is to take place as the mayor has agreed  to trial it

[moonflyte]

There are many small country towns who are interested in curbing the alcohol fueled violence and the welfare treadmill.

It deserves a try, after all sit down money hasn’t worked yet and never will.

[latina4621]

I don't believe it is worth a try

i think it will just esculate the whole problem

[myoclon1cjerk]

Not in this country t.r.o.s1.Baa baa.

[esayaf]

Yes, I have read and comprehended the advice but I can work I just can't do what I once could. So I am ineligible for the DSP