Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Well, let me give you the data. The latest data shows that the number of people receiving Newstart or youth allowance in the Bundaberg and Hervey Bay regions has reduced between June 2018 and June 2019. It has reduced by 8.7 per cent in Bundaberg and by 10.2 per cent in Hervey Bay. That is the actual data. It's not my data; it's the ABS's data. What happened in those areas, as distinct from other areas in regional Queensland, that made Bundaberg and Hervey Bay outliers with respect to reducing youth dependency on Newstart and youth allowance? What was the critical difference? The critical difference was the cashless debit card. That was the only difference. We didn't see that reduction in Logan, south of Brisbane; we didn't see it in Ipswich; we didn't see it in Brisbane; we didn't see it in Mackay and we didn't see it in Townsville. We saw it in Bundaberg and Hervey Bay, the only parts of regional Queensland that saw this astonishing decrease. In Bundaberg, 502 people came off Newstart or youth allowance and in Hervey Bay 395 came off Newstart or youth allowance. The statistics are compelling. The data is compelling.

What is also compelling is what my good friend Keith Pitt, the member for Hinkler, tells us about the feedback from his constituents. This is his patch, his area. What is he telling us? I've given you the data, now let me tell you what he's hearing from his constituents. He's hearing reports that people are able to budget better and have money left over at the end of the fortnight, so they have some savings. This is what he's telling us; this is what his own people are telling him—his own constituents. They're telling him that people have asked if they can volunteer to go on the card. This is in the legislation, to allow volunteers in the Hinkler trial. Currently, people cannot volunteer in other areas. But they're asking if they can go on the card to assist in their ability to manage their circumstances.

One of the emergency relief organisations in Hervey Bay has reported a reduction in people coming in for free food.

Senator Siewert interjecting—

Well, Senator Siewert, I'll give you the quote from 7.30. This is what happened on 7.30it's straight from the transcript:

There is however some anecdotal evidence the card is having an effect according to this Hervey Bay-based food charity.

JAN CARLSON, WE CARE 2: We have noticed since about July a significant decrease in the number of people coming in for free food through the emergency relief program and an increase, almost parallel in numbers, to the people coming through our low cost food centre and actually purchasing food.

PETER MCCUTCHEON: And do you think that can be attributed to the cashless debit card?

JAN CARLSON: Well, I can't say unequivocally but it's a trend that we have never seen before.

We have never had that, we usually would get in three days we would get at least 30, maybe 36 people through emergency relief previously.

Now we're probably seeing 12 a week.

That's the feedback from constituents in my friend Keith Pitt's seat of Hinkler. That's what his people are telling him. That's what the community is saying. Senator Siewert, if you look at those regional job figures across Queensland for that period—