Malcolm Turnbull remains committed to cashless welfare cards after hearing the moving stories of indigenous community leaders in Western Australia.
The prime minister visited Kalgoorlie in September last year to promote the expansion of the cards to the WA Goldfields.
Mr Turnbull restated his support for the cards during a press conference in Perth on Friday, as protesters in Kalgoorlie rallied against the program.
"I would encourage you to go there, as I did, and sit down with the community and listen to the heartfelt stories about the importance of that cashless card and the way it saves families, it saves lives," he told reporters.
"I have rarely been as moved as I have been by the personal stories that I heard there in Kalgoorlie from members of the community, including leading members of the Aboriginal community."
