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...

[moonflyte]

At no time did I ever say all welfare recipients are like that but I think you know that already.

[esayaf]

Why would all need the card then. Surely it should be a tool to help those with problems.

[***super_nova***]

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@djilukjilly wrote:

There's some things you just don't reply to.

This is an important reform and needed to be done decades ago but no government was game to go near it but now that the welfare budget is nearly as big as the health budget something has to be done and to safeguard the disadvantaged with a safety net which is what the government is trying to do.

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This reform will put more money in the coffers of Coles and Woolworth and take the money away from smaller businesses.  Pensioners in this country are already some of the poorest in the western world, and this will plunge them even deeper into poverty.  Australia is a rich country, and we should be ashamed of ourselves.  Trying to compete with USA who can treat disadvantaged  people worse is disgusting.  And by the way, drug and alcohol addiction is an illness, if it would be treated as such instead of criminalising drug use, lots of the problems could also be minimised.  In any case the drug addicts will find a way around it;

Yes, I know, this about old people but dole recipients are even worse off.

[bluecat*dancing]

A one size fits all approach does not, and will not, work. as there are so many layers when in comes alcohol and substance abuse. Addicts will do whatever it takes in which to feed their addiction and a cashless card has the potential to exascerbate the problem.

Oh, as for the "us and them " catchcry, "taxpayers money", well,  those of us on benefits are also taxpayers

[moonflyte]

I'm sure the government is not going to try to roll out a "one size fits all" and of course there are many reasons for alcoholism, drug taking, child neglect and killing children.

Everybody needs to calm down and see what it's all about before saying things will happen to families in need that will disadvantage them. The poor and the disadvantaged will always be cared for by any government in power.

Scare mongering doesn't help in any situation.

[moonflyte]

This reform will take money away from drug dealers and grog sellers, what's wrong with that.

[***super_nova***]

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@djilukjilly wrote:

This reform will take money away from drug dealers and grog sellers, what's wrong with that.

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How?  if druggie does not have enough money they will rob somebody or grow more dope to sell.

[bluecat*dancing]

A simplistic approach to a complicated issue will only have a band aid affect. Addicts will always find a way to procure what they need and a cashless card will only be a temporary obstacle. The "poor and disadvantaged" do not need to be further patronised, infantilised or disempowered and if the government was serious about tackling the problems associated with  addiction, then, everyone would be targeted and not just those on benefits.

[icyfroth]

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@bluecat*poledancing wrote:

A one size fits all approach does not, and will not, work. as there are so many layers when in comes alcohol and substance abuse.

Obviously, the one size fits all approach is not working, otherwise there would be no need for the cashless card in areas where welfare benefits enable rampant drug and alcohol abuse and domestic violence is rampant.

Addicts will do whatever it takes in which to feed their addiction and a cashless card has the potential to exascerbate the problem.

You're right, addicts will do whatever it takes, but that doesn't mean the taxpayer should fuel their addiction. Part of the addiction was begun by ready access to welfare cash. Drug dealers and liquor retailers specifically target welfare dependants. 

Oh, as for the "us and them " catchcry, "taxpayers money", well,  those of us on benefits are also taxpayers.

Which means the taxpayer is being fleeced twice. 

Government should not have to onforward tax revenue from welfare recipients to fund substance abuse by other welfare recipients. 

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[bluecat*dancing]