Amanda Rishworth (Kingston, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

I will answer the question. Those opposite have insisted the University of Adelaide report in January supported the cashless debit card. What they have failed to point out is that the evidence was inconclusive. The study found that any reduction in alcohol and drug use could not be directly attributed to the effect of the card. They failed to acknowledge that the report found that the cashless debit card introduced 'widely felt and costly hurdles to many participants in relation to financial planning and money management' and:

A large proportion of CDC participant… respondents reported that their quality of life had been affected in a negative way…

That was the University of Adelaide report. Of course, we have this ANAO report which the minister failed to listen to either, and I will go to the conclusion of the most recent ANAO report, which said that it 'has not demonstrated that the CDC program is meeting its intended objectives'. Need I say more?

See this speech in context