SYDNEY, March 14 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has championed the success of its cashless welfare card trail on Tuesday, with Human Services Minister Alan Tudge announcing the program would continue with half yearly reviews.
Brought in to curb alcohol and gambling abuse in remote indigenous communities, the year-long trials were conducted in the regions of Ceduna in South Australia and Kununurra in Western Australia.
The card quarantines 80 percent of the recipients welfare, restricting their access to cash and making them unable to spend the amount on gambling or purchase alcohol.
The government decided to extend the program after a 175-page report was concluded detailing the year-long trial.
The findings, conducted by Orima Research, found that one third of recipients had drastically reduced their gambling and one quarter of people in the communities had stopped drinking as much alcohol.
There has been opposition to this initiative however, with some reports claiming loopholes like prostitution and overcharging for a product, in order to receive the difference in a cash payments have been occurring.
"Not everybody supports this program, a lot of people have a negative view of the cards based around not having access to cash," Aboriginal development organisation, the Wunan Foundation executive director, Ian Trust told Xinhua.
"But if it stems the problem in my community of alcohol, drugs and gambling, in my view it's been a good thing and should continue."
Many expect this program may go national-wide and some are tipping the announcement to come from the government during this year's economic budget due in May.
