Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Wong, government policy is, on the basis of the bill that's before us, the continuation of the trial sites for a period of two years, obviously subject to the passage of the amendment that we're yet to get to, and the opportunity and the offering of the cashless debit card as a piece of technology for other people who are on other forms of income management, most specifically, in this instance, the BasicsCard, in the Northern Territory and in Cape York. We have always been very clear that any community that would come under the cashless debit card or income management would have to seek for that to happen themselves. The government does not seek to impose the cashless debit card on to communities. It is very clear in the legislation that the cashless debit card communities are those that have come forward and sought to have this measure put in place in their community.