Report should spell the end of compulsory income management
3/9/2024
The report from the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights into compulsory income management has recommended the complete abolition of the scheme. This follows years of advocacy from communities and the Greens arguing the racist and oppressive program should be repealed.
Last year, the Greens successfully passed amendments that ensured oversight of the expanded compulsory income management scheme through the Joint Committee on Human Rights.
This review considered whether the scheme was compatible with human rights and what its impact had been on communities where it was imposed.
Evidence considered including the dramatically different rate of exemptions granted for compulsory income management with First Nations people much less likely to apply for an exemption and significantly less likely to get an exemption.
The evidence also showed that the move away from the Cashless Debit Card was marked by a very poor transition plan, no support for those impacted and no financial counselling. This was a real opportunity for empowerment and support that was missed. When compulsory income management is fully abolished this mistake should not be made again.
Greens Senator and Social Services and Government Services Spokesperson Penny Allman-Payne said:
"Labor must not continue to kick the can down the road - they need to commit to abolishing compulsory income management as a matter of urgency.
"The Greens, advocates, academics, and people on income management will not stop fighting until Labor keeps their promise and abolishes compulsory income management once and for all.
"Labor promised voters they would end compulsory income management. Since they've been in government all they've done is expand it through the SmartCard."
Greens Senator, Justice Spokesperson and PCJCHR member David Shoebridge said:
"We heard the evidence on this inquiry that Compulsory Income Management was oppressive, racist, unequally applied and deeply unfair.
"This scheme has systematically discriminated against First Nations people.
"It is extremely positive that the majority report calls for an end to income management and the progressive majority in Parliament is ready to support quickly terminating this unfair program.
"Despite the compelling evidence we heard in this inquiry to end income management the Coalition still support it in what can only be seen as an ideological attack on poverty.
"This report says compulsory income management should end, and what we say as Greens is that it should end now."
