Stephen Bates (Brisbane, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

The member for Richmond supported a bill, introduced by the member for Bruce, that would have abolished the cashless debit card. Now an assistant minister, the member for Richmond is part of an administration that is giving more money to Indue and giving the minister powers to put people on compulsory income management. Across the country, Labor MPs met with their community members and represented themselves as progressives and people who would vote for progressive policies. Now we're seeing Labor's true colours. If the people of Hervey Bay and Bundaberg can exit the card, we think the people of Darwin and McArthur should be able to as well. If not, Labor should look these people in the eye and tell them why they're entrenching and perpetuating a failed policy that disproportionately impacts First Nations peoples.

The Greens will not support this bill. I call on the government to remember that Australians voted for change, not more of the same cruel, punitive policies that prop up the profits of companies like Indue at the expense of people's quality of life. Compulsory income management does not work. It is demeaning and the government should be ashamed to be breaking their election promises by reintroducing it.

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