Coles, Woolworths and Aldi back wider use of welfare cash controls
Supermarket giants, banks and fintechs are backing changes that pave the way for a much wider roll out of the federal government's cashless debit card.
Coles, Woolworths and Aldi co-operated on a report recommending measures to make the card more accessible for both welfare and non-welfare recipients.
The report is sitting with the government as it seeks crossbench and Labor support to extend the card trial, which to date has been limited to welfare recipients in two regional areas with big Aboriginal populations.
The recommendations include creating a simple opt-in mechanism for non-welfare recipients and creating a central white-label platform so multiple financial institutions can distribute the card.
Another key change would see
supermarkets apply technology to vet restricted purchases such as
alcohol and gift cards at the point of sale.
The report said circumvention issues needed to be resolved before the card program could be extended to a larger number of communities.
In
the next two sites earmarked for the trial – the Goldfields in WA and
the Bundaberg-Hervey Bay region in Queensland – most of card recipients
will be non-Indigenous.
A Department of Social Security spokesman said it was anticipated that 86 per cent of those issued with a card in Bundaberg-Hervey Bay would be non-Indigenous, as would about 56 per cent in the Goldfields.
It is understood the report grew out of a conversation between Commonwealth Bank boss Ian Narev and Mr Forrest, who provided the catalyst for the card trial. They saw potential for co-operation between financial institutions, fintechs and retailers to improve the card.
Ubiquitous product offering
Minderoo Foundation special adviser Bruce Mansfield said that as the card was rolled out to more sites it was important to have a ubiquitous product offering available from all financial institutions.
"The government of course would like to make it easier for anyone who wishes to use the cashless debit card, or is required to use it under whatever welfare arrangement is put in place," he said.
"We think it is important they can go to multiple financial institutions, or the bank or building society they already use."
Other recommendations target improvements in data recording and analytics that would allow the government to track spending patterns.
Mr Mansfield, a former senior executive with Visa and EFTPOS, said the report had received a warm response from the government.
"The type of technology that we support implementing is exactly the same as what the vast majority of Australians have embraced over the past five to 10 years, contactless technology, contact chip technology, mobile technology," he said.
"The only thing different about the cashless debit card is the limiting and prohibition of certain products."
Source: https://www.afr.com/companies/coles-woolworths-and-aldi-back-wider-use-of-welfare-cash-controls-20180121-h0lo70?fbclid=IwAR3br6UiE5ebi2MB1kTwRZx9JqDd0ZXhs9032gQyXpn0s59SgbJADOgVqxs
The report said circumvention issues needed to be resolved before the card program could be extended to a larger number of communities.
Reducing gambling and substance abuse
Independent
analysis shows the card has had some success in reducing gambling and
substance abuse in Ceduna in South Australia and the East Kimberley in
Western Australia where about 80 per cent of card users are Indigenous.
A Department of Social Security spokesman said it was anticipated that 86 per cent of those issued with a card in Bundaberg-Hervey Bay would be non-Indigenous, as would about 56 per cent in the Goldfields.
It is understood the report grew out of a conversation between Commonwealth Bank boss Ian Narev and Mr Forrest, who provided the catalyst for the card trial. They saw potential for co-operation between financial institutions, fintechs and retailers to improve the card.
Ubiquitous product offering
Minderoo Foundation special adviser Bruce Mansfield said that as the card was rolled out to more sites it was important to have a ubiquitous product offering available from all financial institutions.
"The government of course would like to make it easier for anyone who wishes to use the cashless debit card, or is required to use it under whatever welfare arrangement is put in place," he said.
"We think it is important they can go to multiple financial institutions, or the bank or building society they already use."
Other recommendations target improvements in data recording and analytics that would allow the government to track spending patterns.
Mr Mansfield, a former senior executive with Visa and EFTPOS, said the report had received a warm response from the government.
"The type of technology that we support implementing is exactly the same as what the vast majority of Australians have embraced over the past five to 10 years, contactless technology, contact chip technology, mobile technology," he said.
"The only thing different about the cashless debit card is the limiting and prohibition of certain products."
Source: https://www.afr.com/companies/coles-woolworths-and-aldi-back-wider-use-of-welfare-cash-controls-20180121-h0lo70?fbclid=IwAR3br6UiE5ebi2MB1kTwRZx9JqDd0ZXhs9032gQyXpn0s59SgbJADOgVqxs
This type of targeting was what the Nazi regime used to alienate the Jewish populations in Europe pre 1939, it is not fair just or equitable and this is what the government is trying to foist on the least advantaged of our population.
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ReplyDeletei reckon Andrew Forest is one of the good ones and i reckon this is on the right track !
Forrest is one of the good ones and he's on the right track in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteIt’s already being trialled in Hervey Bay & Bundaberg and the other site.. for last 12 months.. disaster
ReplyDeleteForest and the banks in cahoots to strangle Australia . Only benefit will be to their shareholders as Australian governments pays millions annually for private companies to manage the card. Nothing in it for Aussie battlers, aged pensioners and those with disabilities or others that need support. the poor. Shameful that this is being considered, far cheaper to pay for rehab for the minority of people with drug and alcohol problems.
ReplyDeleteWhen was the research done for this article? Or more to the point was Any research done?! This is a load of absolute rubbish, for start the card is operating (NOT operating) in 4 sites, not 2 as stated. Bundaberg/Hervey Bay have been fighting to live with it for over a year! It's as big a rort as the robodebt debacle, with Indue (card provider with big interests in Nats & Libs) not paying rents & peoples bills on time. People becoming homeless, can't purchase groceries medications etc. as the card fails time after time. It is NOTHING like any other debit card. Please do some research into the real live facts of this racket before posting so much misinformation. IF you want facts from the majority of innocent people who have been steamrolled with this corrupt card, have a look at fb page No Cashless Debit Card Australia.
ReplyDeleteWe can see your bias...,what once wasn't enough!
ReplyDeleteThis remains APARTHEIDT. The fact that the first trials were on the most vulnerable shows a fasist attitude and callousness . Seeing as we seem to be tracked already by Visa and other cards maybe that process could better point out the problem area and then send more recourses at the point where the problems are occurring. As only a small percentage of welfare recipients are cheating the system only those problem participants ought to be restrained.
ReplyDeleteWe don't lock up everyone who drives because some of us drink and drive. We seek out the drivers who are problems, fine them and take away privilege .... this doesn't happen to all of us!! The Indue card is an expensive way to provide the government with an outsourced welfare establishment ... BAD IDEA . Welfare is the RESPONSIBILITY of government not private sector. The system is NOT broke and this dreadful disgusting APARTHEIDT make all us australians look callous and bad .... not my cup of tea Twiggy