Discipline doled out

ABOUT 6000 unemployed people in Bundaberg and Hervey Bay will have their welfare payments quarantined to prevent them wasting the funds on gambling or alcohol.

The move, which is part of a trial of a cashless welfare card, was given the green light by Federal Parliament yesterday despite an audit slamming the running of earlier trials in Ceduna in South Australia and East Kimberley in WA.

Labor and the Greens opposed the extension of the trial to Queensland but the measure passed the Senate with the support of crossbenchers.

The card will be given to people under 35 who receive Newstart Allowance, Youth Allowance (Job Seeker), Parenting Payment (Single) or Parenting Payment (Partnered) in areas which have the highest rates of entrenched joblessness in Queensland.

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt said the move would especially help children.