Julian Leeser (Berowra, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Two weeks ago, with the Leader of the Opposition and the member for O'Connor, I travelled to Laverton and Leonora in Western Australia. We heard from local leaders that since this government abolished the cashless debit card there has been an increase in alcohol-related violence and children in those communities not being fed. When will the Prime Minister start listening to the local voices of community calling for the reinstatement of the cashless debit card?

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

I would like to thank the member for his question. Of course, there's a lot of emotion around the cashless debit card, and some of those on the other side are using it for political purposes. They're using it as a way to divide communities and spread misinformation.

Alcohol misuse in remote and rural Australia is due to a complex range of issues, and the Goldfields is no different. Of course, having a look at—

Michael Sukkar (Deakin, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Rubbish!

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

Well, of course, reports from the Goldfields have been from local police who have reported, as I have stated in this place, that there has been an increase of movement from the NG lands to Kalgoorlie, Leonora and Laverton this summer. I will remind the House that the NG lands were never subject to the cashless debit card, so making this connection is misleading.

It has also been publicly reported—which I am assuming the Leader of the Opposition has listened to—that there have been recent royalty payments which have attracted larger groups into town to access these funds.

Michael Sukkar (Deakin, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How many different excuses are you going to come up with?

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Deakin is warned!

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

I remind everyone that royalty payments have never been restricted by the cashless debit card. So, once again, these connections do not actually add up and, once again, are an example of misinformation. But I would also like to quote some comments from Aboriginal elder Marty Seelander, who said that people with serious drinking problems are among those from the NG lands who receive infrequent but substantial mining royalties and travel to the Goldfields region to spend their payments on alcohol. That is what the Leader of the Opposition heard. Why he would come into this place and try and mislead and conflate is beyond me.

But I will say that we, as a government, are investing in the things that work. We will invest in the support and services that work. My department continues to consult with those regions, because we promised and committed money to the existing services that were to end under those opposite—from 1 July this year there was no more money for these sites. Of course, we have not only committed that funding but have committed extra funding to the services that work. I will, and this government will, continue to work with those communities affected by these complex issues to deliver real and lasting solutions. We are not going to play politics, even if those on the other side will.