Maia
Content Warning: These stories are about violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation and may include references to suicide or self-harming behaviours. They may contain graphic descriptions and strong language and may be distressing. Some narratives may be about First Nations people who have passed away. If you need support, please see Contact & support.
Maia wrote to the Royal Commission to express her concerns about the introduction of the Cashless Debit Card for people on the Disability Support Pension (DSP). She believes this is ‘a form of abuse’.
‘People on payments like Disability Support Pension and Aged Pension should have access to cash via their own bank accounts,’ she said. ‘These people know how to spend and save their own cash and don’t need someone to dictate … how to spend and on what to spend it on.’
Maia said the introduction of the card may result in increased homelessness, higher poverty and children missing out on school activities, such as camps and excursions.
She also believes it will result in higher suicide rates ‘because things like bills, rent can’t be met [and there will be] less food to put on the table’.
Maia said access to health services will also be affected:
‘As a woman on DSP if on cashless card won’t be able to get health checks (ie Pap smears) now I have to pay & they won’t accept the cashless card. If need a specialist won’t able to see them because I don’t have that $50 because they also don’t accept cashless welfare card.’
Maia hopes the Australian Government will listen to the people on the trial of the Cashless Debit Card and understand that ‘it’s not working’.
Disclaimer: This is the story of a person who shared their personal experience with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability through a submission or private session. The names in this story are pseudonyms. The person who shared this experience was not a witness and their account is not evidence. They did not take an oath or affirmation before providing the story. Nothing in this story constitutes a finding of the Royal Commission. Any views expressed are those of the person who shared their experience, not of the Royal Commission.