A community development organisation in Arnhem Land has labelled the Federal Government’s latest plans to expand the cashless welfare card as negligent.
The comment comes as the Morrison Government argues to have the income quarantine tool rolled out through the Northern Territory and the Cape York Peninsula.
The card, which has been trialed in select locations across the country, has been criticised for bringing a lack of evidence and targeting areas with a majority of Indigenous residents.
While the Government plans to expand what they are calling a trial, the NT has already had a similar initiative in place since the Intervention in 2007, that’s the Basics Card.
General manager of community services for the Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation, Liam Flanagan says from their own research they have seen the Basics Card strip people of their self-determination and empowerment.
