Few things attract unanimous support from across the political spectrum, especially in the fraught area of welfare reform. Remarkably, however, as the Albanese Government recently sought to deliver on its one-size-fits-all election promise to scrap the Cashless Debit Card (CDC), all sides of politics did unite in support of the self-determination approach of the Family Responsibilities Commission (FRC).
“It was so pleasing to see there has been multipartisan support and strong commitment for the Family Responsibilities Commission model that operates in four Cape York Communities and Doomadgee in the Gulf," said Fiona Jose, Group CEO of Cape York Partnership operating OHubs, community centres that support families in FRC communities.
She says Social Security Minister Amanda Rishworth listened to local and regional leaders from Cape York and around the country to amend its approach. “She has done a sterling job in ensuring that whilst implementing the government’s election commitment did not destroy the important innovation of income management.”
“It was parliamentarians hearing from those on the ground in affected communities that made all the difference,” Ms Jose said.
“It was abundantly clear not only are there individuals who want a voluntary income management that utilises technology like a CDC card, there are communities who want to be able to decide for themselves who they put on income management, through their own self-determined processes."
The Australian Greens joined Senators Pauline Hanson, Jacqui Lambie and David Pocock, the Coalition and the Australian Labor Party in the Senate to support the Albanese Government’s amendments to the Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Repeal of Cashless Debit Card and Other Measures) Bill 2022. In doing so, they ensured not only was the Family Responsibilities Commission given strong ongoing support, but that the door was left open to other communities with ‘blanket’ models of income management to decide they want a more nuanced self-determination model like the FRC.
“Finally the times have caught up with Indigenous innovation, finally politics has caught on to the idea that locally-led Indigenous innovations should be supported,” Ms Jose said.
“The Family Responsibilities Model is an all-too-rare model of self-determination that empowers local Elders and Respected Persons to support their own community members to make positive changes for their families.
“Across Australia we need governments to back First Nations people locally to take more of this kind of community-based intervention, so we can overcome the real problems our communities face.”
About the Model
First Nations community leaders have power under the FRC to call people before them where community-devised behavioural triggers have been breached – for not sending your kids to school, not caring for children or committing a crime.
They have the backing of the government to conduct restorative justice-style conferencing, just as our Old people used to do.
The FRC model does not rely on income management alone and income management is used as a last resort. But income management is a vital element for success.
Local leaders appointed as Local Commissioners are the decision-makers about income management. They can impose income management when it is needed to protect women, children and other vulnerable people in the community.
The Local Commissioners are leaders and mentors. They counsel individuals and families to get back on track. They are empowered to use social and cultural pressure so community members access supports. They coordinate referrals to services and case management to hold those services to account.
"Without the FRC, these communities would be once again in a situation where all powers over the lives and futures of our people are held by the state,” Ms Jose said.
“It would condemn them again to a situation in which devastating action can be taken – by child protection authorities, by the police, and by the courts – but no effective action can be taken by our own Elders and Respected Persons to stop the terrible outcomes that are far too common in remote communities."
The FRC is a community-devised and community-led model introduced by Labor Premier Anna Bligh in 2008. It has received bipartisan support at the state government level in Queensland since that time.
Voluntary uptake
Since the Cashless Debit Card replaced the inferior technology of the BasicsCard in March 2021, many more people have taken up Voluntary Income Management (VIM) in FRC communities.
The most common reason for seeking VIM is so that life’s most basic needs can be met – to buy food and to pay bills.
Women have found VIM helpful in protecting their income in relationships involving domestic violence and coercive control. Many parents are using VIM so they can support their children.
As at 31 July 2022:
- Only 31% of FRC clients on income management were on conditional income management after a decision made by the Local Commissioners
- 69% were on VIM – voluntarily opting-in
Nearly half of those taking up VIM, have earlier been on conditional income management after a decision made by the Local Commissioners, showing that personal responsibility is building with both these options in place.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information, please contact CYP Media below