There's a rumour doing the rounds that the Rudd Government intends to make income management compulsory for Centrelink and Vet Affairs income recipients.
Income management for all is expected to;
tie up a good percentage of any pension, unemployment benefit, family tax benefit, austudy, carer allowance, other allowance or payment - possibly 50% or even higher;
link this amount to a Basic Card which can only be used at approved stores for government approved purchases - merchants of course having a right to reject the card simply because they can't be bothered or refuse to sell certain goods if a card is presented;
have a daily limit on the amount which can be spent;
and then probably (as soon as technology is ready) allow the card to be tracked so that bureaucratic sticky beaks can see just how money is spent.
And all this expected to happen sooner rather than later, with no respect for a person's dignity or standing.
Here are some of the things which can't be done with the Basic Card now.You cannot use your Basic Card:
* at an ATM;
* for "cash out" transactions;
* to purchase gift or store cards, or vouchers;
* to repay debts or credit;
* at merchants that are not Approved Merchants;
* for internet, mail order or telephone-based purchases;
* for direct debit transactions;
* for BPAY transactions;
* for transferring any funds;
* to purchase alcohol, cigarettes or other tobacco products;
* to purchase a lottery ticket, Lotto entry etc;
* for instalment payments on goods and services, such as a "lay-by" payment scheme;
* to purchase goods or services from a petrol station (other than petroleum, other fuel products and automotive goods and services); or
* to purchase goods and services from an Approved Merchant utilising a paper based or manual transaction procedure.
According to the National Wefare Rights Network, one of the things you're apparently allowed do with a Basic Card is pay for a funeral - not that you'd have enough money on the card to do so. Boy, Kev - you really know how to create the mother of all vote losers for Janelle Saffin (Labor MP for Page) and Justine Elliot (Labor MP for Richmond) both of whom have large blocs of voters receiving pensions, family allowance etc. in their NSW North Coast electorates. The things is, mate - you'll deserve every vote loss if this rumour is indeed true and a stake through the heart for being such a callous bloodsucker.
Ballina on the NSW North Coast is playing host to the 350.org's Global Day of Climate Action! next Saturday.
