Unemployed people in a handful of areas across Australia face the prospect of being shunted onto cashless welfare cards.
Entry to the controversial scheme has been paused for the past year, given the huge influx of people left unemployed throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
But the federal government has decided to resume the program for people seeking income support.
"Now that the number of Australians coming on to social security payments has returned to pre-pandemic levels it is appropriate to lift the pause," Social Services Minister Anne Ruston said on Wednesday.
Senator Ruston said the government would implement a staggered approach to shifting new entrants onto the long-running trial scheme.
The cashless debit cards quarantine up to 80 per cent of welfare payments so the money cannot be spent on alcohol or gambling.
The supposed benefits of the cards are hotly contested.
CASHLESS WELFARE CARD LOCATIONS:
* Northern Territory
* East Kimberley and the Goldfields in Western Australia
* Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Cape York and Doomadgee in Queensland
* Ceduna in South Australia
