Australian Cashless Welfare Fight
Donation protected
My name is Daniel Taylor. I am an Australian citizen.
I am currently internally displaced in my own country of Australia.
Since June 2016 I have been fighting against the Australian Government and their social experiment; the Cashless Welfare Card trial.
My fight, which included a 16 day hunger strike, has received some media attention , but it is time to do much more to hold the Australian Government to account and prevent lives being damaged.
I am seeking your support to raise money to fund myself and my team of supporters to fight against the negative aspects of this trial, which includes;
* Loss of Privacy
* Breach of Human Rights
* Loss of Autonomy
* Emerging Negative Behaviours
* Socio-Economic Apartheid & Stigma
Brief Background
The Cashless Welfare Card trial is aimed at having welfare recipients undergo strict income management controls. Trial participants are forced to use a Visa card where 80% of their income is restricted and only 20% access to cash is allowed.
The aim of the Australia Government is to prevent welfare money being spent on alcohol, drugs and gambling.
Many participants were not properly informed about the trial before its implementation in two regions of Australia, namely Ceduna and Kununurra. These communities have a high population of Indigenous Australians.
Privacy Concerns
When handing out the cards, participants were provided with 84 page instruction booklets . Buried deep in the booklet is the fact that participants would be agreeing to all terms and conditions of the trial as soon as they recorded a PIN number when first activating the card.
Of major concern for Daniel are sections 64 & 65 in the Indue Card Instruction Booklet, where it states;
64 What information we provide to the
Commonwealth of Australia
"We may share any personal information we have
collected about you (for example your name,
address, date of birth, contact details, transaction
history and communications you have had with
Indue about your Account) to the Commonwealth
of Australia which may use this information at its
discretion to ensure restrictions are being applied
effectively and to evaluate the Debit Card Trial. The
Commonwealth may provide de-identified summary
data to a third party evaluator as part of this process.
By using your Account (including your Visa
Card and Card Details), you acknowledge and
agree that Indue will be providing your personal
information to the Commonwealth of Australia
(including any department of the Commonwealth
of Australia)."
65 Who we provide your personal
information to
65.1 In addition to the Commonwealth of Australia,
we may provide your information to:
(1) our service providers who work for
us to help us operate your Account;
(2) payment scheme providers such
as Visa, BPAY and APCA;
(3) regulatory bodies, government
agencies, law enforcement bodies
and courts;
(4) other parties as is authorised
or required by law; or
(5) other participants in the financial
systems such as other financial
institutions for the purpose of resolving
disputes, errors or issues in relation to
your Account.
---
The Australia Government has essentially outsourced its welfare responsibilities to corporate entities managing this card. There are now serious concerns about how the personal private data associated with card usage is being collected, stored, managed, shared and used.
Daniel's fear is that the privacy of welfare recipients is being breached and the basic social contract that citizens have with their government is now being brought into question.
(Photo: Ceduna protest preparation June 2016)
Human Rights Concerns
Before the trial commenced the Australian Government was given a number of Human Rights recommendations from the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights. A number of these recommendations directly concerned the issue of Income Management. See below an excerpt from the recommendation report;
Income management
4.104 The income management measures engage and limit the right to equality and non-discrimination, the right to social security and the right to privacy and family. Although the committee considers that under certain conditions income management is a legitimate and effective mechanism, evidence before the committee indicates that compulsory income management is not effective in achieving its stated objective of supporting vulnerable individuals and families. The committee considers that this objective remains an important and legitimate goal.
4.105 A human rights compliant approach requires that any measures must be effective, subject to monitoring and review and genuinely tailored to the needs and wishes of the local community. The current approach to income management falls short of this standard. As such, the committee makes the following recommendations in order to improve the human rights compatibility of the measures:
Recommendation 4
The committee recommends the continuation of community led income management where there has been a formal request for income management in a particular community following effective consultation on the particular modalities of its operation, including whether it should be a voluntary program.
Recommendation 5
The committee recommends that income management should be imposed on a person only when that person has been individually assessed as not able to appropriately manage their income support payments. Information concerning rights and processes of appeal should be provided to the person immediately and in a language that they understand.
(Source: http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Human_Rights/Committee_Inquiries/strongerfutures2/Final_report/a02)
Daniel's human rights concerns are linked to issues of;
1. Equality
2. Non-discrimination
3. Poor monitoring and review
4. Lack of grassroots community consultation
5. Mandatory aspect of the trial for participants
6. Lack of information and support about how to remove oneself from the trial
7. Lack of adequate information about the trial in languages understood by participants, particularly Indigenous Australians where English IS NOT their first language
8. Lack of proper individual assessments of participants forced to join the trial
Similar concerns have been expressed by Australian academic Dr Shelley Bielefeld in The Sydney Law review where she stated;
Although the Government claims that compulsory income management protects human rights, the PJCHR concluded that the compulsory income management scheme breaches a range of human rights by which Australia is bound under international law. The PJCHR concluded that legislation will still discriminate on the basis of race under human rights law where it ‘overwhelmingly or disproportionately’ affects ‘members of a particular racial or ethnic group’.
The Sydney Law Review p. 710, VOL 36:695
(Photo: Ceduna Protests October 2016 )
Loss of Autonomy Concerns
Trial participants have been disempowered and suffer from a lack of freedom of choice.
Individuals have complained that not having access to cash has prevented them from exercising choice as to where they can spend their welfare funds. For example you are restricted from buying food items from farmers and local markets.
Here is an excerpt from a news report from NITV (SBS);
Ceduna residents on the card have criticised it for taking away their ability to budget and make their own choices.
Margaret Argent said: "It’s taken my responsibility. It’s taken my ability to control myself. It’s taken my budgeting – why are they budgeting when we are doing it ourselves?"
"There’s a lot of other issues I’ve had with it. Not being able to have cash for my kids, when they go on school camps, school canteens, not having that five dollars in your pocket…" said resident Andrea Richards.
Other individuals have also commented in the media that lack of access to cash has prevented families from funding children participation in activities where cash is needed to make payments.
Emerging Negative Behaviours Concerns
There are local reports of an increase in risky behaviours and manipulation people by unscrupulous
individuals.
For example, there have been serious news reports about individuals without cash being forced to engage in sexual acts and/or criminal activity to support addictions relating to drugs and alcohol.
Black market activities have increased to access cash. This includes people providing goods in exchange for cash, usually at a lower market value.
Unscrupulous merchants, such as some taxi drivers, have been reported helping desperate trial participants circumvent cash restrictions by over-charging for taxi fares and reimbursing a percentage of that fare in cash.
Economic Aparthied & Stigma
Viewed from a wider perspective the trial participants can be seen to be suffering from the early stages of a new type of 'socio-economic apartheid'. The punitive aspect of participating in the trial carries a stigma for Cashless Welfare Card users.
HOW THE MONEY WILL BE USED
Daniel is in urgent need of financial assistance to secure accommodation, travel funds and access to professional assistance to run this campaign.
To date Daniel has travelled close to 12,000 kilometres around Australia to seek support, research and protest his case.
Daniel has been reliant on the support of a growing number of activists, academics and media representatives. However, he is under increasing physical, mental and emotional strain.
To campaign effectively Daniel needs to establish a base, and continue to engage with professionals (including fellow trial participants, academics, international NGOs, reporters, government officials and volunteers).
He is currently on welfare and recieves approximately $215 per week. This is an enormous struggle on such a low income.
FUNDS NEEDED IMMEDIATELY
Daniel needs the funds immediately. He is already eating poorly and has inadequate accommodation in Canberra.
THIS MEANS SO MUCH
Daniel is greatly concerned that if the Australian Government is not held to account about how it is conducting this Cashless Welfare Card Trial, then many, many more Australians on welfare will likely risk being exposed to the same degrading treatment.
The Australian Government is already talking about 'rolling the card out' to all Australians who receive welfare payments. This potentially means that over 2 million people may well be impacted.
THANKFUL
Daniel and his growing number of supporters thank all people for financial assistance, regardless how much you provide and no matter where you are in the world.
Let's work to ensure the Australian Government treats all people with dignity, respect and equality. No government should impose such harsh measures on its people. No government should break its sacred contract with its people and introduce harsh corporate measures.
Governments must protect the innocent and the vulnerable, not mistreat them.
The world is watching.
(Photo: Daniel Taylor in front of Parliament House, Canberra in November 2016)
#HumanRights #Equality #Justice #Non-discrimination #EqualRights #WelfareReform #CashlessWelfareCard #DanielTaylor #WeStandWithDaniel #Australia #IndueCard
I am currently internally displaced in my own country of Australia.
Since June 2016 I have been fighting against the Australian Government and their social experiment; the Cashless Welfare Card trial.
My fight, which included a 16 day hunger strike, has received some media attention , but it is time to do much more to hold the Australian Government to account and prevent lives being damaged.
I am seeking your support to raise money to fund myself and my team of supporters to fight against the negative aspects of this trial, which includes;
* Loss of Privacy
* Breach of Human Rights
* Loss of Autonomy
* Emerging Negative Behaviours
* Socio-Economic Apartheid & Stigma
Brief Background
The Cashless Welfare Card trial is aimed at having welfare recipients undergo strict income management controls. Trial participants are forced to use a Visa card where 80% of their income is restricted and only 20% access to cash is allowed.
The aim of the Australia Government is to prevent welfare money being spent on alcohol, drugs and gambling.
Many participants were not properly informed about the trial before its implementation in two regions of Australia, namely Ceduna and Kununurra. These communities have a high population of Indigenous Australians.
Privacy Concerns
When handing out the cards, participants were provided with 84 page instruction booklets . Buried deep in the booklet is the fact that participants would be agreeing to all terms and conditions of the trial as soon as they recorded a PIN number when first activating the card.
Of major concern for Daniel are sections 64 & 65 in the Indue Card Instruction Booklet, where it states;
64 What information we provide to the
Commonwealth of Australia
"We may share any personal information we have
collected about you (for example your name,
address, date of birth, contact details, transaction
history and communications you have had with
Indue about your Account) to the Commonwealth
of Australia which may use this information at its
discretion to ensure restrictions are being applied
effectively and to evaluate the Debit Card Trial. The
Commonwealth may provide de-identified summary
data to a third party evaluator as part of this process.
By using your Account (including your Visa
Card and Card Details), you acknowledge and
agree that Indue will be providing your personal
information to the Commonwealth of Australia
(including any department of the Commonwealth
of Australia)."
65 Who we provide your personal
information to
65.1 In addition to the Commonwealth of Australia,
we may provide your information to:
(1) our service providers who work for
us to help us operate your Account;
(2) payment scheme providers such
as Visa, BPAY and APCA;
(3) regulatory bodies, government
agencies, law enforcement bodies
and courts;
(4) other parties as is authorised
or required by law; or
(5) other participants in the financial
systems such as other financial
institutions for the purpose of resolving
disputes, errors or issues in relation to
your Account.
---
The Australia Government has essentially outsourced its welfare responsibilities to corporate entities managing this card. There are now serious concerns about how the personal private data associated with card usage is being collected, stored, managed, shared and used.
Daniel's fear is that the privacy of welfare recipients is being breached and the basic social contract that citizens have with their government is now being brought into question.
(Photo: Ceduna protest preparation June 2016)
Human Rights Concerns
Before the trial commenced the Australian Government was given a number of Human Rights recommendations from the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights. A number of these recommendations directly concerned the issue of Income Management. See below an excerpt from the recommendation report;
Income management
4.104 The income management measures engage and limit the right to equality and non-discrimination, the right to social security and the right to privacy and family. Although the committee considers that under certain conditions income management is a legitimate and effective mechanism, evidence before the committee indicates that compulsory income management is not effective in achieving its stated objective of supporting vulnerable individuals and families. The committee considers that this objective remains an important and legitimate goal.
4.105 A human rights compliant approach requires that any measures must be effective, subject to monitoring and review and genuinely tailored to the needs and wishes of the local community. The current approach to income management falls short of this standard. As such, the committee makes the following recommendations in order to improve the human rights compatibility of the measures:
Recommendation 4
The committee recommends the continuation of community led income management where there has been a formal request for income management in a particular community following effective consultation on the particular modalities of its operation, including whether it should be a voluntary program.
Recommendation 5
The committee recommends that income management should be imposed on a person only when that person has been individually assessed as not able to appropriately manage their income support payments. Information concerning rights and processes of appeal should be provided to the person immediately and in a language that they understand.
(Source: http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Human_Rights/Committee_Inquiries/strongerfutures2/Final_report/a02)
Daniel's human rights concerns are linked to issues of;
1. Equality
2. Non-discrimination
3. Poor monitoring and review
4. Lack of grassroots community consultation
5. Mandatory aspect of the trial for participants
6. Lack of information and support about how to remove oneself from the trial
7. Lack of adequate information about the trial in languages understood by participants, particularly Indigenous Australians where English IS NOT their first language
8. Lack of proper individual assessments of participants forced to join the trial
Similar concerns have been expressed by Australian academic Dr Shelley Bielefeld in The Sydney Law review where she stated;
Although the Government claims that compulsory income management protects human rights, the PJCHR concluded that the compulsory income management scheme breaches a range of human rights by which Australia is bound under international law. The PJCHR concluded that legislation will still discriminate on the basis of race under human rights law where it ‘overwhelmingly or disproportionately’ affects ‘members of a particular racial or ethnic group’.
The Sydney Law Review p. 710, VOL 36:695
(Photo: Ceduna Protests October 2016 )
Loss of Autonomy Concerns
Trial participants have been disempowered and suffer from a lack of freedom of choice.
Individuals have complained that not having access to cash has prevented them from exercising choice as to where they can spend their welfare funds. For example you are restricted from buying food items from farmers and local markets.
Here is an excerpt from a news report from NITV (SBS);
Ceduna residents on the card have criticised it for taking away their ability to budget and make their own choices.
Margaret Argent said: "It’s taken my responsibility. It’s taken my ability to control myself. It’s taken my budgeting – why are they budgeting when we are doing it ourselves?"
"There’s a lot of other issues I’ve had with it. Not being able to have cash for my kids, when they go on school camps, school canteens, not having that five dollars in your pocket…" said resident Andrea Richards.
Other individuals have also commented in the media that lack of access to cash has prevented families from funding children participation in activities where cash is needed to make payments.
Emerging Negative Behaviours Concerns
There are local reports of an increase in risky behaviours and manipulation people by unscrupulous
individuals.
For example, there have been serious news reports about individuals without cash being forced to engage in sexual acts and/or criminal activity to support addictions relating to drugs and alcohol.
Black market activities have increased to access cash. This includes people providing goods in exchange for cash, usually at a lower market value.
Unscrupulous merchants, such as some taxi drivers, have been reported helping desperate trial participants circumvent cash restrictions by over-charging for taxi fares and reimbursing a percentage of that fare in cash.
Economic Aparthied & Stigma
Viewed from a wider perspective the trial participants can be seen to be suffering from the early stages of a new type of 'socio-economic apartheid'. The punitive aspect of participating in the trial carries a stigma for Cashless Welfare Card users.
HOW THE MONEY WILL BE USED
Daniel is in urgent need of financial assistance to secure accommodation, travel funds and access to professional assistance to run this campaign.
To date Daniel has travelled close to 12,000 kilometres around Australia to seek support, research and protest his case.
Daniel has been reliant on the support of a growing number of activists, academics and media representatives. However, he is under increasing physical, mental and emotional strain.
To campaign effectively Daniel needs to establish a base, and continue to engage with professionals (including fellow trial participants, academics, international NGOs, reporters, government officials and volunteers).
He is currently on welfare and recieves approximately $215 per week. This is an enormous struggle on such a low income.
FUNDS NEEDED IMMEDIATELY
Daniel needs the funds immediately. He is already eating poorly and has inadequate accommodation in Canberra.
THIS MEANS SO MUCH
Daniel is greatly concerned that if the Australian Government is not held to account about how it is conducting this Cashless Welfare Card Trial, then many, many more Australians on welfare will likely risk being exposed to the same degrading treatment.
The Australian Government is already talking about 'rolling the card out' to all Australians who receive welfare payments. This potentially means that over 2 million people may well be impacted.
THANKFUL
Daniel and his growing number of supporters thank all people for financial assistance, regardless how much you provide and no matter where you are in the world.
Let's work to ensure the Australian Government treats all people with dignity, respect and equality. No government should impose such harsh measures on its people. No government should break its sacred contract with its people and introduce harsh corporate measures.
Governments must protect the innocent and the vulnerable, not mistreat them.
The world is watching.
(Photo: Daniel Taylor in front of Parliament House, Canberra in November 2016)
#HumanRights #Equality #Justice #Non-discrimination #EqualRights #WelfareReform #CashlessWelfareCard #DanielTaylor #WeStandWithDaniel #Australia #IndueCard
Organizer
Daniel Taylor
Organizer
Canberra ACT
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