Cashless welfare trials extended for another two years after last-minute amendments pass Senate

Centre Alliance's Stirling Griff abstained from voting on the amended legislation, which gave the government the votes it needed to pass the Senate.

Nine in ten Indigenous Australians have no financial security- a new program hopes to provide better education. Source: AAP

Trials of the federal government’s cashless welfare card will be extended for another two years after it failed to convince the Senate to roll the highly-controversial scheme out permanently in designated communities.

On Wednesday night, the government made last-minute amendments to its legislation after key independent Senator Rex Patrick declared he would vote against the card’s permanent rollout, citing a lack of evidence the scheme was effective.

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