New East Kimberley participants added to cashless debit card program after freeze ends

The cashless debit card rollout is set to return to the East Kimberley, after the Federal Government last week announced its temporary freeze of the program would come to an end.

The cashless debit card was introduced to the East Kimberley in April 2016 to limit the portion of social welfare payments spent on alcohol, gambling and other products and activities considered socially harmful. In the East Kimberley, all people who receive a working-age welfare payment are part of the program.

A temporary pause on new income support recipients to join the program was put in place last March as a result of COVID-19 to help manage the influx of welfare recipients. Federal Families and Social Services Minister Anne Ruston last week lifted the freeze, claiming now was the right time.

“Community leaders and stakeholders support the lift of the pause to ensure new income support recipients are spending their social security payments on the essentials,” she said.

As at February 26, 2021, there were 1592 participants on the cashless debit card in the East Kimberley, including 671 in Kununurra, 139 in Wyndham, and 782 in other locations.

According to the Department of Social Services, it is expected a further 267 income support recipients will be transitioned onto the program in the East Kimberley over the next two months.

The program will be in place in the East Kimberley until at least the end of next year.

Wunan Health was contacted for comment.