Hon. Darren West questions the Minister representing the Minister for Child Protection regarding the proposed cashless debit card trial in Geraldton, focusing on consultation, support, and awareness of community concerns. The Minister's response indicates broad support for the concept but defers further engagement until after the federal election.

AnsweredQoN 414Legislative Council
Asked
11 May 2016
Portfolio
Child Protection

QuestionView source ↗

CASHLESS DEBIT CARD — GERALDTON
414. Hon DARREN WEST to the minister
representing the Minister for Child Protection:
I have a question for the Attorney General
that was asked of the Minister for Police yesterday. Will he answer that
without the need for me to ask the question again or should I ask another
question? It was asked yesterday and referred to the Attorney General by the
Minister for Police. Will he do that at the end of question time or does he
want me to ask the question now?
Hon Michael Mischin : You can do.
Hon DARREN WEST : Will the Attorney General answer it?
Hon Michael Mischin : It will not be very helpful. I will
need more time to get the information.
Hon DARREN WEST : Okay; I will ask another question.
I ask my question to the Minister
for Planning representing the Minister for Child Protection. I refer to the
cashless card trial proposed for Geraldton.
(1) Has the minister or her
department been consulted about the proposed trial; and, if yes, when?
(2) Does the minister support the
proposed trial?
(3) If yes to (2), on what basis
does the minister support the trial?
(4) Is the
minister aware of the increasing community concern about the introduction of a cashless
card trial in Geraldton?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice
of the question.
(1)–(4) Income
support management is a matter for the commonwealth government and the cashless
debit card is a commonwealth government initiative. The commonwealth government
has engaged with the state government at both a ministerial and a departmental
level about the overall initiative. The state government has indicated broad
support for the concept of a trial in Kununurra and Wyndham and there has been
ongoing operational engagement about the introduction of the trial. There have
been some discussions at ministerial and departmental level about an additional
trial site in Geraldton and the variety of opinions within the community. The
state government is awaiting the outcomes of the trial in Kununurra and Wyndham
and will re-engage with the commonwealth government on this matter following
the federal election.

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