Cashless debit Card Trials: Interview summary

Participants were asked about their understanding of how communities came to be chosen for the Cashless Debit Card (CDC) trials, what process communities went through to accept a trial or not, whether they supported the trials or not, if they had changed their view during trials and their thoughts on plans to expand trials and make them permanent. There were mixed views of the Cashless Debit Card (CDC) trials and the expansion of the trials into the Northern Territory, but a majority did not support either. Those who did support the trials said they had initially agreed because federal government promised to bring services to their area, help unemployed youth and reduce social problems. However, after trials started, the promised services and programs did not eventuate or were not provided as agreed. Many people believed the trials to be stigmatising and controlling – a throw-back to the Protectionist era.