Federal Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey said the extension of the Cashless Debit Card (CDC) trial to Bundaberg is confirmation of the worth of the terrific pioneering work the residents of the Ceduna area had done in proviing to the nation the community value of the card.
“The Government has secured support to roll out the debit card in the Bundaberg and Hervey Bay regions as soon as next year, expanding on the existing trial sites in Ceduna, East Kimberly and the more latterly added Kalgoorlie,” he said.
“The urgency to implement further testing of the card was increasing daily. Having successfully implemented the card in populations with higher indigenous populations in Ceduna, the East Kimberly and the goldfield region around Kalgoorlie, it was becomingincreasingly urgent to take the trial to a community with a racial mix more representative of the rest of Austraia.”
“This extension to broader Australia has been strogly resisted by the Greens and Labor and they should explain why, but eventially with persistance we have won the support of the Seanate cross bench”, Mr Ramsey said.
“In Ceduna, the CDC has resulted in reductions in drug use, alcohol consumption and gambling as well as reductions in crime and hospital admittances. The pilot program has been a highly successful exercise.”
“Currently about 800 South Australians and 4900 West Australian are using the card.
“The Cashless Debit Card trial was co-designed with community leaders in Ceduna to best meet local needs and I praise the Ceduna community for taking responsibility and tackling local challenges head on.
“Ceduna had the courage to address the issues that were damaging people, families and the whole community,”
“I have maintained for some time the trials in Ceduna and Kimberly could not continue as trial pilots in isolation and I am very pleased it has been expanded.
Media Contact: Leonie Lloyd-Smith 08 8633 1744
September 11 2018