Reprinted without comment......
Ministers
for the Department of Social Services, media release:
Empowering
communities with the abolition of the cashless debit card program
24
September 2022
Joint
with:
The
Hon Amanda Rishworth MP
Minister
for Social Services
Member
for Kingston
The
Hon Linda Burney MP
Minister
for Indigenous Australians
Member
for Barton
The
Hon Bill Shorten MP
Minister
for Government Services
Minister
for the National Disability Insurance Scheme
Member
for Maribyrnong
The
Hon Justine Elliot MP
Assistant
Minister for Social Services
Member
for Richmond
The
Albanese Labor Government is delivering a long-term plan to ensure
certainty, choice and support to communities moving off the cashless
debit card program.
Following
extensive consultation in sites across the nation, the Government has
today announced a suite of measures that empowers local communities
and will assist in abolishing the cashless debit card program and
ensure communities are better off.
This
will deliver on our election commitment to end a failed program.
The
Government will abolish the cashless debit card program and make
income management voluntary in Ceduna, East Kimberley, Goldfields and
Bundaberg-Hervey Bay.
Under
the plan, the Cape York region will retain all of its powers of
self-determination and referral for community members to go onto
income management under the Family Responsibilities Commission.
CDC
participants in the Northern Territory will be subject to the
requirements under previous income management legislation.
The
plan will see around 17,300 individuals in cashless debit card
program sites transition off the CDC and onto the new arrangements,
or off the program completely.
Participants
in Ceduna, East Kimberley, Goldfields and Bundaberg-Hervey Bay will
be able to transition from October 4, subject to the passage of
legislation.
The
plan for the abolition of the cashless debit card program includes:
an
updated income management technology solution with an enhanced card
linked to Services Australia
a
continuation of current community support services and addition of
new services
legislative
amendments to strengthen and streamline income management and
oversight
delivering
$49.9 million for additional alcohol and other drug treatment
services and support in cashless debit card trial sites
providing
$17 million for community-led and designed initiatives to support
economic and employment opportunities in cashless debit card sites
additional
staffing support from Services Australia to support communities
through the transition
In
the Northern Territory and Cape York and Doomadgee region – as well
as volunteers in other sites – the transition to the new enhanced
card will be completed early next year.
The
changes have been communicated with states and territories, who have
all indicated willingness to work with the Commonwealth on the
longer-term issues facing these communities.
Updated
Technology
Updated
technology for people moving to income management will provide access
to more merchants and facilitate BPAY and online shopping.
Protections such as pin technology and consumer-driven product
blocking will also be explored.
Crucially,
under the changes all income management will be delivered by Services
Australia. Individuals will no longer be required to deal with a
private company for customer support functions.
The
measures will restore the role of Services Australia in income
management and provide enhanced choice.
Legislative
changes
Amendments
will be introduced to the Parliament on Monday to further affirm the
role of the Family Responsibilities Commission in the Cape York
region, ensure those on income management in the Northern Territory
have access to the enhanced technology and allow people to volunteer
to be on the updated solution.
Changes
will be made to bring income management under one piece of
legislation. Participants transitioning from CDC will have 50 per
cent of their income quarantined and 50 per cent accessible in cash,
except in Cape York where the Family Responsibilities Commission
determines the appropriate proportion.
Stronger
Services
A
total of 44 essential support services in communities – such as the
community bus in Ceduna for children who cannot access other
transport – that were set to have funding expire next year, will
continue.
A
range of new support services, including those requested by
communities during consultation with the Government, will also be
developed and funded.
The
government will also deliver $49.9 million for additional alcohol and
other drug treatment services and support in the four CDC trial sites
in Ceduna, East Kimberley, Goldfields and Bundaberg-Hervey Bay. These
services will be co-designed with the local community to ensure the
support meets local needs, in another example of the government
supporting local decision-making and voices.
Funding
will be used to support alcohol and other drug treatment that
complements existing services, addresses service delivery gaps, and
is consistent with the needs and expectations of the communities -
designed to support First Nations and other people living in these
locations.
As
a critical first step, the Government will work with communities on a
localised approach to funding alcohol and other drug treatment
services for each location.
Strengthening
economic development
A
total of $17 million will be made available to support the creation
of economic and employment opportunities in cashless debit card sites
following the abolition of the CDC program.
The
grant funding will be directed towards community-led and designed
initiatives, in line with our principles of self-determination and
choice.
Additional
staffing support
Additional
front of house staff from Services Australia will be provided in
cashless debit card program sites over the transition period.
Staff
will support community engagement activities, including Indigenous
Service Officers and Community Engagement Officers and there will be
additional Remote Servicing visits arranged. More Financial
Information Service (FIS) Officers will also be available to work
with individuals on budgeting issues or more complex financial
issues.
Social
Workers will be available to work with individuals with more complex
issues. Additional specialist staff may be deployed into CDC sites
during the transition period if the need arises.
The
Department of Social Services will also provide additional social
supports as required in response to the need of the individual CDC
communities.
Minister
for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said the Albanese Labor
Government was delivering on its election commitment to abolish the
CDC program and had carefully considered measures that would help
communities.
“This
package will deliver real solutions for those communities who were
subject to the cashless debit card trial and provide choice and
long-term certainty into the future,” Minister Rishworth said.
“We’ve
heard from communities about what they need and these measures
deliver on that.”
Minister
for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney said the Government has
listened to local communities and would continue to consult
community-by-community on the future of income management.
“Entrenched
disadvantage must be tackled by adequate support that addresses the
causes of that underlying disadvantage and build capacity.”
Minister Burney said.
Minister
for Government Services Bill Shorten said restoring the role of
Services Australia would result in those on income management
receiving the right support services.
“Services
Australia is the Government’s key implementation agency and will
work to deliver the policy as laid out under the Government’s
plans,” Minister Shorten said.
Assistant
Minister for Social Services Justine Elliot said hearing first-hand
what communities wanted had informed this package.
“I’ve
been out on the ground consulting and the package we have delivered
is comprehensive and it is what communities want,” Assistant
Minister Elliot said.
The
Albanese Labor Government remains committed to making income
management voluntary over the long term for those 24,000 people on IM
nationally.
We
will continue consultation over the next 18-months to ensure
communities are supported to decide what the future of IM looks like
for them.
This
is important work but we have to ensure we are consulting thoroughly
and listening to communities.
Information
about the changes will be distributed in First Nations languages and
dedicated Commonwealth support teams will be deployed to assist with
the transition.
