Unemployment benefits in Australia will no longer be paid in cash.
All benefits will be paid through a “BasicsCard” which recipients can use to purchase essentials.
The thinking of he Australian government is that this will prevent the funds being used on drugs alcohol etc…. The government calls the cards a form of income management. The Basics card is a reusable “credit” card that makes people spend their welfare money at approved stores and businesses. The card can only be used to buy essential items – it cannot be used to purchase gift vouchers, take cash out from a store or an ATM
Critics have argued that this is demeaning and an infringemt of human rights…
Full story on BBC
