RR Phantom
Location : Wasted Space Job/hobbies : Cayman Islands Actuary
| Subject: OZschwitz: Centrelink uses casino gambling records to steal from unreported income Mon Nov 03, 2008 4:05 pm | |
| CENTRELINK is using records provided by Star City casino to assess whether people have earned extra income from gambling.
In at least two dozen cases in the past year Centrelink has pursued people on aged or disability support pensions for welfare debts. It says they have won money that should have been counted as income when they were means tested for their welfare payments.
The director of the Welfare Rights Centre, Maree O'Halloran, said Star City patrons would be "shocked to learn that the casino collates data on their winnings and losses, let alone forwards it on to Centrelink".
"Most of the clients who have contacted the centre are not high rollers," Ms O'Halloran said.
"Many are elderly or socially isolated pensioners drawn to the casino by its lively atmosphere, cheap meals and drinks and what they perceive to be a sense of community. Others are problem gamblers of long standing."
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