1. Income Management
92% of respondents reported that they had problems getting half their money in cash.
90% of respondents did not like using the store cards.
86% of respondents disliked going to Centrelink all the time for their monies
91% of participants were negative about the quarantining of welfare payments
There is little statistical difference between rural and urban participants’ opposition to Income Management, suggesting that the welfare quarantine is adversely affecting people in all areas of the Northern Territory. However 100% of outstation respondents reported problems with receiving only half their money in cash, suggesting that the policy is particularly destructive for outstation residents.
Women and men were both overwhelmingly opposed to the quarantining of welfare payments, with 89% of women reporting problems and 95% of men reporting problems with receiving only half of their welfare entitlements in cash.
Some problems with Income Management that survey participants cited were;
1.1 Travel is more necessary and more difficult or impossible to budget for.
"I have a vehicle and not enough cash to cover costs"
"Not enough money for travel back and forth"
"Harder to travel, harder to get pension, less money"
"Travel long way to store"
"Not enough money for travel back and forth"
"Travel to town always"
"Cost/transport to centrelink"
"No money to fix car"
"Travel- not enough money"
"Can't travel to cities, can't get money in other cities"
"Very hard for bush people when they come to town"
"Have to come a long way without a vehicle"
"Too far to walk, a lot of shopping"
"But I need money for car"
"Only Fruit/Veg at Tangentyere"
"Harder for petrol"
"We don't want that card, getting angry, $70 on bush bus, long way, no cash"
"Travel"
"Need money for example to catch a bus"
"Have to travel all the way to A/S (480km) no Centrelink in community."
"Need money for petrol"
"Long way we come in to get store card, can't get it at community"
"$110 to come in to town to get store card. Sometimes come into town and no money in key card, but have come all the way"
"Have to go to centrelink fortnightly"
"No, would rather go to Tangentyre"
"Long way to travel and long line-up"
"Better to get fuel pension"
1.2 Intervention systems are difficult to navigate and break down frequently
"It's spoilt everything, not working for me."
"I liked the old way"
"You can't really understand their purpose"
"Because of the waiting time, days of collecting the card"
"Like old way, no job."
"Line up long wait"
"long wait"
"long waiting time"
"No, too crowded"
"Everything not working"
"Not sought out properly"
1.3 The Policy is Discriminatory
"Rob us for money. Some people white got cash money but not Aboriginal. A lot of people complain about the card."
"No rights"
"Taking us back, treating us like dogs"
1.4 Difficult for immobile and elderly people
"Have broken leg, hurts to work"
"Everybody is confused especially the old people"
1.4 Difficulties budgeting
"Not enough money for house, not having cash"
"Use of other facilities, power, water rates (etc)"
"Need more, other bills to pay"
"Can't buy what's needed"
"Get store card, $100, fuel card, can't pay other bill"
"Can't get cash money our own money to buy clothes and food"
"I want to save for a house"
"Want to have the money to be able to do what I need"
"I want to save for a house"
"Cash is better we might get some clothes, school clothes"
"Don't want to use it. Can't get power card, can't stay at home in the dark, need powercard"
1.5 Destroys independence for Aboriginal people
"Should leave it to us to decide. We don't want that store card."
"I'd rather get all my money so I can buy myself."
"We want to spend money own way"
"Don't want store card"
"Want to buy things that I want, want to have choice"
"I like to go to shops I like to go to"
"No choices"
"Waiting time. Not enough choice where we can shop"
"No choice"
"No choice how spending money"
"Taken my responsibilities"
"Taken away the responsibilities of my life"
"People should be allowed to spend money how they want"
"Takes freedom away, can't choose when and where to shop"
"No choice how spending money"
"Don't like, removes freedom"
"Should be voluntary"
"No responsibility"
1.6 Culturally inappropriate
"Disrespectful as a man"
1.7 Increased poverty
"Makes it hard. Not enough money for clothes and blankets"
"I don't get any cash"
"Money in pocket, nothing now"
"Half money no good"
"Not enough money or nothing"
"Want full money"
"I want to get the cash"
"$120 fortnight. Don't like it because don't get that much money. Have to sign papers after get pay"
"Not enough for a feed, need stuff for the house like dishwashing liquid"
"I should get full pay"
"Don't get much money, store card taking money away"
"Not enough food, food don't last long enough"
"Not much money left"
"Not enough money"
1.8 Punishing people who have done nothing wrong
"Non drinker, I look after kids"
"Not on a town camp but still quarantined"
"Non drinker, look after kids"
"No drinkers here"
1.9 Caring for children and family is more difficult
"Hard when in town, especially if you have kids and can't buy. Close income management."
"Centrelink not working properly. Have to look after children"
"Single woman but help families who miss out"
"Look after kids, no money to give kids at Yirara"
"More Family Problems, more fights and arguments"