Work and Income's former boss says ACT's new welfare policy is 'sensible'.

Party leader David Seymour's pledging to restrict what beneficiaries can buy, via work-ready Jobseekers' payment cards after four months. 

It'd block spending on alcohol, gambling, tobacco and cash withdrawals - allowing only essentials like groceries and rent. 

Christine Rankin says they shouldn't spend taxpayer money on that anyway. 

"It's not their money, it's given to them to help them not be stuck in poverty, because benefits equal poverty."

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