IMGCAP(1)]
Processing Content
The Australian government says it plans to select a vendor in mid-November to support the expansion of its BasicsCard welfare program. The government's Human Services Department last year launched the card in Australia's Northern Territory and now hopes to extend the initiative into the state of Western Australia. Consumers use the PIN-based prepaid card to pay for essential goods and services. "The card is used at participating stores, but only for certain types of goods," Matthew Sinclair, executive director with Australia-based Carpadium Consulting, tells CardLine Global. "For example, the card can be used to buy food or clothes, but not for alcohol or gambling."
