Ayn Marx wrote on Jan 23^rd, 2020 at 11:27am:

Correct. There was one very dubious survey - it may even have been this one - where "participants who reported" was found to be eight people out of a sample of over 2,000 and they were drawing conclusions from that. Oh, and there was a survey - again, it may have been this one - that was NOT done anonymously and had "inducements".

This whole "trial" has been a stitch up from the beginning. It needs to be subjected to the investigative blowtorch of a Royal Commission.

On the results so far ...

Seems to be working pretty well:

Independent evaluation of the Cashless Debit Card trial in the Ceduna and East Kimberley regions
The Australian Government commissioned ORIMA Research to undertake a full, independent evaluation of the Cashless Debit Card trial in the Ceduna region, and in the East Kimberley region (Kununurra and Wyndham). The evaluation has reported in three stages:

the Cashless Debit Card trial evaluation – Initial Conditions Report;
the Cashless Debit Card trial evaluation – Wave 1 Interim Evaluation Report; and,
the Cashless Debit Card trial evaluation – Final Evaluation Report.
The Cashless Debit Card trial evaluation – Final Evaluation Report is now available and compares data gathered throughout the evaluation period (April 2016 – July 2017).

The evaluation used qualitative and quantitative research methods and the evaluation design was informed by feedback from:

respected academics and commentators with expertise in conducting research and evaluations involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, as expert advisors to the Steering Committee;
leaders and representatives of Aboriginal corporations and community organisations in the Ceduna region and East Kimberley region; and
officers of Commonwealth and State Government agencies with on-the-ground experience in both sites.
The evaluation assessed harm reduction impacts of the Trial on individual and community functioning, focusing on social harm caused by alcohol consumption, drug use and gambling.

The final evaluation report was released on 1 September 2017.

The evaluation found that the Cashless Debit Card has had a “considerable positive impact” in the two trial communities of Ceduna and the East Kimberley.

It concluded that the Cashless Debit Card trial “has been effective in reducing alcohol consumption and gambling in both trial sites and [is] also suggestive of a reduction in the use of illegal drugs” and “that there is some evidence that there has been a consequential reduction in violence and harm related to alcohol consumption, illegal drug use and gambling”.

Key findings from the report include:

Alcohol – of participants who reported that they do drink alcohol, 41 per cent of participants reported drinking alcohol less frequently, while 37 per cent of participants reported binge drinking less frequently.

Gambling – of participants who reported they do gamble, 48 per cent of participants reported gambling less.

Drug use – of participants who reported using illegal drugs before the program commenced, 48 per cent reported using illegal drugs less often.


The evaluation also found “widespread spill-over benefits” from the card:

Of the trial participants surveyed, 40 per cent said they were better able to look after their children.

45 per cent of trial participants have been better able to save money

Feedback that there had been a decrease in requests for emergency food relief and financial assistance in Ceduna

Merchant reports of increased purchases of baby items, food, clothing, shoes, toys and other goods for children

Considerable observable evidence being cited by many community leaders and stakeholders of a reduction in crime, violence and harmful behaviours over the duration of the trial.


https://www.dss.gov.au/families-and-children-programs-services-welfare-quarantin...

What have the young got to lose faced with global extinction on an unprecedented scale?

Valkie wrote on Jan 23^rd, 2020 at 4:32am:

Is that why the politicians get very fat pensions? Why the Coalition of Corruption fight tooth and nail to keep lining the pockets of the greedy with unfunded measures like franking credit refunds while starving the needy with petty penny-pinching? Why the average household on $200,000 a year receives about twice as much government money a year as the average single person on Nostart, with far less paperwork? Why fossil fuel companies receive about $40 billion a year in subsidies?

If you're going to be whining about "welfare", look at the huge amounts going to the RICH. There are HUGE savings to be had by cutting all this wealthfare and making the rich pay their fair share of tax by abolishing all regressive and flat taxes and making ALL taxes progressive.

There are a lot of people out there who are MUCH angrier than you at this inequity, and for very good reason. Privileged idiots don't even know this is going on and will remain ignorant until the killings start.

Captain Nemo wrote on Jan 23^rd, 2020 at 2:18pm:

Property crime is up. Domestic violence is up. Black market activity is through the roof. Still think it's a good idea? What if you lose your job? It can happen, don't deny it. Would you want to be forced to live on $500 a week for six months and then forced onto this? It could be YOU. Do you want it for yourself? Or are you one of the oppressors?

A case of whom to believe, don't you suspect, Nemo?

Bam wrote on Jan 23^rd, 2020 at 3:15pm:


$500 a week? More like 500 a month

Spot