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Clients at the Casuarina Centrelink in Darwin were treated to a singing protest on January 27 against the Basics Card. As part of the federal government’s Northern Territory intervention, Indigenous people in the NT have half of their welfare payments restricted to a card that can be used to buy only food, clothing and medical supplies at specified stores.

Rob “Kris Pistofferson” Inder-Smith sang and played guitar, protesting against his payments recently being put on the Basics Card without an adequate explanation. The words are published below.

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Put me on the Basics Card ’cos I can’t manage my dough
As if being jobless ain’t a hard enough row to hoe
Anger rising anger not healthy I know
So won’t you tell me please then which way do I go?

Do I stay silent? Do I choose violence?
Do I pop in and talk to my local MP?

Put me on the Basics Card, part of a bigger show
Government failure is our punishment and woe
Race-hate politics, apocalyptic low
Won’t be happy till we’re all John and Jane Doe

What good is reason against the treason of those who would have me explode?
Shall I write a letter? Why not go one better
Invade Centrelink screaming no!

Put me on the Basics Card huh just to lighten up my load
But my gratitude I will not show
Offered me the Basics Card ’cos I can’t manage my dough
But I didn’t take it — to hell I told ’em all to go.

What good is reason against the treason of those who would have me explode?
Shall I write a letter? Why not go one better –
Invade Centrelink screaming no.

No blanket Basics Card! No blanket Basics Card! No blanket Basics Card!
No social engineering! End welfare quarantining!