Back cashless welfare card, senators told

Indigenous leaders from a remote town in South Australia are in Canberra to convince Labor and crossbench senators to support the trial of a cashless welfare card.

The trial aims to reduce the 4600 admissions to sobering-up clinics in Ceduna by providing a cashless debit card and new support services.

Assistant Social Services Minister Alan Tudge has called on Labor to support government legislation scheduled to be debated in the Senate on Monday.

Independent senator Nick Xenophon says Mr Tudge needs to visit the town to thrash out some of the concerns around implementation otherwise the trial was set up to fail.

However, he believes the card has the potential to do good in the area.

Greens senator Rachel Siewert described the concept as "income management on steroids", saying the minor party would vote against the legislation.

The opposition accused Mr Tudge of seeking to avoid scrutiny on his legislation by engaging in "baseless scaremongering and politically motivated deceit".

"Labor knows that alcohol abuse and the harm it causes is having a devastating impact on the lives of people living in Ceduna and the surrounding communities," families and payments spokeswoman Jenny Macklin said.

To rush proper consideration of the legislation and its implications was irresponsible and could potentially undermine potential long-term outcomes, she said.