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BasicsCard
BasicsCard is 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, often big chain supermarkets. 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 is expensive, it 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.

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

Legislation
The legislation introduced as part of the package included:

the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Bill 2007

the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Welfare Payment Reform) Bill 2007;

the Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment ( Northern Territory National Emergency Response and Other Measures) Bill 2007;

the Appropriation (Northern Territory National Emergency Response) Bill (No. 1) 2007-2008; and

the Appropriation (Northern Territory National Emergency Response) Bill (No. 2) 2007-2008.

Notably, Clause 132 of the first Bill stated that the provisions of it are classified as 'special measures' under the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 and therefore exempt from Part II of the Act. While the main elements of the intervention were otherwise kept in place, this exemption from provisions of the Racial Discrimination Act was brought to an end in 2010.