First Nations consumer advocates from the Save Sorry Business Coalition have greeted the announcement that the Federal Government will extend its Interim Youpla Scheme with a renewed call for the urgent establishment of a fair and culturally appropriate resolution for First Nations people.
Advocates also recognised that this extension of the scheme until 30 June 2024 will relieve pressure from those who are at risk of passing.
For the 325 First Nations families who have already benefited from the Youpla Funeral Benefit Program, this has been a welcome first step in the resolution process by the Federal Government and has allowed those families to conduct Sorry Business with dignity.
Save Sorry Business noted the Federal Government's role in legitimising and facilitating payments from low income First Nations families through the Centrepay system dates back to 2001, coinciding with a major increase in profits for the company that was recently found to have engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct by the Federal Court of Australia.
The advocates said First Nations representatives have been working with Mr Jones and Ms Burney for more than one year, beginning soon after Youpla went into liquidation, and a range of government and regulatory failures, including the registration and continuation of Youpla on Centrepay have been identified and examined.
First Nations representatives have also met with the offices of the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth, Government Services Minister Bill Shorten and many others in order to highlight the targeted exploitation of vulnerable First Nations people and the Centrepay system over two decades.
The Save Sorry Business Coalition noted that the Federal Government has previously given assurances that the final resolution would be fair and culturally appropriate, not excluding First Nations people who had legitimate claims against the company.
Commitments to culturally appropriate options such as refunds/payments, replacement funeral bonds and savings products have also been provided.
Bettina Cooper, Boandik woman and Save Sorry Business Coalition Coordinator & Aboriginal Financial Counsellor at Mob Strong Debt Help said the advocates have "cautious optimism" about the announcement from Ministers Linda Burney and Stephen Jones, with hopes that this will be "the final extension before the Federal Government's enduring resolution is announced".
"We have welcomed their commitment to put a scheme in place to address the harm to First Nations people caused by Youpla, Centrepay and regulatory failures over decades," she said.
"Minister Burney has previously given her assurance that the scheme will include culturally appropriate options such as refunds/payments, replacement funeral bonds and savings products. This needs to occur alongside culturally appropriate financial counselling support. We are seeking confirmation of these elements."
It is over thirty years since Youpla started targeting First Nations people and over twenty years since the Federal Government approved Youpla to receive payments via Centrepay, taking money straight from people's social security payments "before they could even put food on the table", Save Sorry Business noted.
The advocates estimate more than 100,000 people - or 10 per cent of all First Nations people - have been directly harmed by Youpla.
"This exploitation and deception has caused severe intergenerational harm for individuals, families and communities. It has created financial and cultural crises, worsened health outcomes and deepened poverty that will take decades to recover from. It has widened the Gap."
"Responsibility for fixing that lies with the Federal Government. We will continue working with them as a priority to ensure they deliver a fair and culturally appropriate resolution that does not leave First Nations people behind."
