In an interview with krone.tv, the deputy governor of Lower Austria, Udo Landbauer (FPÖ), analyses his previous experiences with the payment card for asylum seekers, which has been introduced on a trial basis in his state, and his efforts to partially introduce a speed limit of 150 on the motorways in Lower Austria.
Landbauer: “The speed limit itself is not a state competence, but a federal matter. However, the previous attempt by the then Minister of Transport Norbert Hofer to allow a speed limit of 140 km/h on the Lower Austrian sections of the western motorway was successful. Despite the higher speed, the risk of accidents has decreased.” Landbauer considers the western motorway and the southern motorway in particular to be suitable for speeds of 150 km/h on some sections. The reality currently looks very different: “The great goal of the Minister of Transport (Leonore Gewessler, note) is a general speed of 30 km/h in local areas, 80 km/h on public roads and 100 km/h on the motorway.”
Debit card instead of cash
Landbauer’s experiences with the payment card instead of cash for refugees are positive: “The test phase of the natura card will be completed in October. In November, the entire state will switch over to it. Our goal is to make Lower Austria as unattractive as possible for economic refugees. The first refugees have already left the state.” From Landbauer’s perspective, Vienna would be a social country of milk and honey for asylum seekers. Landbauer: “I will continue to talk to city council member Peter Hacker. We in Lower Austria will no longer reverse the switch to payment cards instead of cash. But Vienna can adopt our payment card model.”
Weapons ban in the asylum center
Regarding the previous cooperation with Johanna Mikl-Leitner, the deputy state governor says: “We are working together on the working agreement. We have already implemented a large part of this. Think for example of the Corona Fund, the Swimming Kids campaign, the natura card or the abolition of the ORF state tax.” From Landbauer’s point of view, the weapons ban in asylum seekers’ centers would also apply: “Anyone in Lower Austria who carries weapons with them in the asylum seekers’ home, such as knives, brass knuckles or fixation devices, is outside the basic care.”
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Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
