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Full Story

How Centrepay plunged vulnerable Australians into debt

Apr 10, 2024
Indigenous affairs editor and chief investigations correspondent shed light on the alarming exploitation of the Centrepay system, exposing businesses targeting vulnerable individuals for financial abuse. They discuss cases of excessive charges, unethical practices at Esther House in Perth, lack of regulation, Australian company involvement, and the impact on remote communities.
27:31

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Centre-Pay scheme exploited by companies for financial gain, leaving welfare recipients impoverished.
  • Lack of regulatory oversight enabled widespread exploitation of welfare recipients under Centre-Pay, calling for urgent reforms.

Deep dives

The Issue with Centre-Pay System Exploitation

The Centre-Pay system, initially designed to help welfare recipients manage bills, has been misused by various entities to financially exploit vulnerable individuals. Companies like ACBF Upla have taken advantage of Centre-Pay to accumulate millions from vulnerable people, leaving them with nothing. Rent-to-buy schemes like those from Urban Rampage have been criticized for overcharging on essential items, leading to financial hardships for welfare recipients.

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