Cashless welfare card considered

As discussion about the Takeaway Alcohol Management system heats up in Hedland, another concept has been put on the table.

Member for the Pilbara Brendon Grylls last week revealed the Healthy Welfare Card — a cashless welfare card which cannot be used to buy alcohol or gambling products or to withdraw cash — was also being considered in Hedland.

“I think this week we have seen some really positive results in the monitoring of the Healthy Welfare Card out of Kununurra and I know that certainly the mayor of Hedland has been talking to me about that,” Mr Grylls said.

Newly elected Mayor Camilo Blanco confirmed the Healthy Welfare Card was one of “many options” to be considered in addressing antisocial behaviour caused by alcohol consumption in Hedland.

“As a Federal Government initiative, it is their decision whether a trial should be implemented in the Town of Port Hedland,” he said.

“The Town is continuing conversations with Federal and State representatives.”

Mr Grylls said his discussion with Mr Blanco centred around bringing the community and indigenous leaders together to try to come to an agreement.

“Until you can present a united community front I don’t think the Federal Government will be interested in going down that path so the first job is for the community to decide they want it,” he said.

“Indigenous leaders did that (in Kununurra), they said ‘we are going to implement this for the benefit of our community’ and the results of the first six months of the trial are starting to show some dividends.”

Mr Blanco said the Town had given in-principle support for TAMs to be implemented in Hedland and on November 23 the Town would host a consultation forum on the topic of drugs and alcohol in the community.