Australia to mull alcohol/gambling ban for welfare recipients

An Australian mining tycoon plans to present a bill to the government of Prime Minister Tony Abbott that would restrict Australians receiving welfare from gambling and buying alcohol, The Daily Telegraph reported.

It said the plan, put forward by Andrew Forrest, may affect up to 2.5 million people.

Welfare recipients will be given a special “health welfare card” linked to their bank accounts and the card would be programmed to prevent the money being used on “prohibited goods,” the newspaper reported, citing the as yet confidential 244-page report. The plan aims to ensure welfare payments are only spent on essentials such as rent and food and used by struggling families to help raise healthy children.

Forrest also wants families receiving family tax benefits to be penalized financially if they fail to ensure their children attend school.

 

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