Abolish the Cashless Debit Card
There's no two ways about it – the cashless debit card is a racist card that disproportionately targets Aboriginal communities.
In the recent leader's debate, Prime Minister Morrison claimed that "the cashless debit card is helping vulnerable people get back on their feet." But the Morrison Government's own report found that the card doesn't work and most people don't want to be on it.1
People who are forced onto this card can only use it with certain vendors, and have no financial control over their money. The only people who benefit are the investors of the private company that runs this card, Indue Ltd.
Labor have already committed to abolishing the card.2 Can you sign this petition and demand that the Morrison Government abolish the card too?
In the recent leader's debate, Prime Minister Morrison claimed that "the cashless debit card is helping vulnerable people get back on their feet." But the Morrison Government's own report found that the card doesn't work and most people don't want to be on it.1
People who are forced onto this card can only use it with certain vendors, and have no financial control over their money. The only people who benefit are the investors of the private company that runs this card, Indue Ltd.
Labor have already committed to abolishing the card.2 Can you sign this petition and demand that the Morrison Government abolish the card too?
- There's no choice: People on the card have to purchase from certain stores – with most having no facilities to process payments. This means that unemployed people have no choice on where they buy their goods, even if it means not being able to buy special needs items like food for children with dietary needs.
- It's discriminatory: The Indue cashless welfare card – and the BasicsCard before it – were targeted to groups already discriminated against by the government, such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people from low socioeconomic areas.
- It causes stigma and shame: Imagine buying groceries and needing to stand in a separate line for Indue card holders, and the system shutting down as you try and buy food for your family. This happens to people forced onto cashless debit everyday. The lack of financial autonomy causes distress and shame for many unemployed people, and one reason we need to abolish the card.
- It's a handout to financial institutions: The Indue card is a privatised system that benefits investors in the system – and these private companies have an interest in keeping people unemployed. We should work towards investing public money into systems that benefit people, not keep them in cycles of poverty.
[1] 'Cashless debit card: government's own research finds underwhelming support', The Guardian, 7 December 2020.
[2] 'Labor promises to scrap 'privatised' cashless welfare card if elected', The Guardian, 23 May 2021.
ADD YOUR NAME
Scott Morrison: Abolish the Cashless Debit Card now!
In taking action, I agree to GetUp's Privacy Policy.