Government MP Rebukes Own Welfare Policy

A Liberal MP has voiced concerns with her own party's welfare policy, saying making the cashless debit card permanent is harmful and constitutes overreach.

Bridget Archer has been left concerned with feedback about the income management system, saying it takes away people's sense of pride.

The only reason she's not voting against the plan is because it could leave people further disadvantaged, tour hạ long with trials to end on December 31 if the bill fails.

"There are not alternative payment structures in place," Ms Archer told parliament on Wednesday.

"After such a tour hạ long trial phase it would require some work to transition away from it again. And I will continue to advocate for that to occur.

"I want to make it unequivocally clear today that any proposed future expansion of this scheme will not have my support."

For coronavirus safety Ms Archer has been paired with a Labor MP this week to reduce numbers in the chamber on votes.

In light of her speech Labor has withdrawn that arrangement so she has to make a firm decision on the bill.

Trials of the scheme in South Australia's Ceduna region, the East Kimberley and Goldfields in Western Australia, and Bundaberg and Hervey Bay in Queensland were due to end mid year but were extended to December 31.

The bill permanently puts welfare recipients in those areas on the cards and transfers people in the Northern Territory to the scheme from another type of income management card.

The first-term Tasmanian MP says people in her electorate, including pensioners, are concerned they will also be forced onto the cards.

"Applying a broad brush to all recipients in a current site, no matter their circumstances, is harmful and unhelpful," Ms Archer told the lower house.

"Governments imposing control in this way is not a fix to the myriad of issues driving disadvantage and at best it is a bandaid.

"Whenever you approach a human problem by inciting shame and guilt, you have already lost those that you are seeking to help."

Ms Archer has also questioned the government's intentions on the card.

"With the amount of time and money spent in addressing the current challenges of this program it is difficult to believe this program will end with these current sites."

The success of the bill rests in the hands of two independent senators.

The cards freeze up to 80 per cent of Centrelink payments so money can only be spent on what the government deems essential.

It prohibits people from spending money on alcohol, kynghidongduong.vn drugs and gambling.