User:Johnfpublic

BasicsCard
BasicsCard is EFTPOS card, a part of The Income Management Program, instituted by Australian government as a part of “the intervention” as a means to control the spending of welfare money by the state welfare recipients.

Based on the Northern Territory National Emergency response Bill 2007, the first version was targeted to 72 Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory, covered by NT Intervention. Then, after a complaint by the United Nations because of suspension of the Racial Discrimination Act, which was needed to implement it, it morphed into non race-based, location-directed program.

From 2011, the Income Management scheme is compulsory for all Northern Territory state benefit recipients. There also exists a voluntary version of the program.

Those who have their income managed lose control of 50% to 70% of their welfare and all of lump sum payments, such as baby bonus. These funds are transferred to a BasicsCard account. Recipients of income management can use BasicsCard to buy products in pre-approved categories, such as food, clothing, fuel, whitegoods and toys, only from registered suppliers. Balance in BasicsCard cannot be used to buy alcohol, pornography, gift cards or spent on gambling. It limits access to markets, wholesalers and second hand shops.

The program costs between A$6600 and A$7900 per person per year to administer, equal to 62% of the $246 a week [|Newstart] payment. Australian government is planning to roll out the program across the whole country at a cost of around one billion Australian dollars.

Critique
According to Australian Government's Finance Department’s Strategic Review of Indigenous Expenditure, put together in February 2010, and obtained by Channel Seven under Freedom of Information laws, returns on government-funded Indigenous programs are “dismally poor”. Also, a survey of more than 180 women raised serious questions about the benefits of the compulsory program, under which the majority don’t feel safer, nor has it changed what they buy.

BasicsCard merchants in Northern Territory by category, November 2013

 * Australia Post: 0
 * Automotive repairs: 74
 * Bakery: 3
 * Bookstore: 3
 * Butcher: 29
 * Chemist/pharmacy: 33
 * Clothes store: 113
 * Convenience store: 78
 * Deli: 1
 * Department store: 29
 * Discount store: 9
 * Education outlet: 36
 * Fruit and vegetables: 6
 * Furniture store 11
 * Hardware store: 15
 * Medical service: 19
 * Motor vehicle registries: 11
 * Newsagent: 6
 * Other (veterinary, café …) : 7
 * Petrol station: 84
 * Second hand goods: 22
 * Shoe store: 15
 * Short term accommodation: 22
 * Supermarket: 154
 * Toys: 4
 * Transport: 58
 * Whitegoods: 4