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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Lorena Allam and Christopher Knaus

Government ignored warnings more than 100 companies may be misusing Centrepay scheme, Asic says

Centrepay ASIC Services Australia Labor Lidia Thorpe Louise Pratt Penny AllmanPayne AGL Guardian Australia
Centrepay Composite featuring Centrepay logo atop generic image of white goods and a standard lease agreement
Asic has expressed concern to Services Australia about 122 rent-to-buy appliance companies, many of which operate in Indigenous communities. Composite: Universal Image Group / Getty / Centerpay

The corporate regulator repeatedly warned Services Australia that it should review and consider removing more than 100 companies from a government-run debit scheme that allows early access to welfare payments.

But it said its attempts to sound the alarm about potential misuse of the scheme have had no impact.

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