Australia must follow other nations and protect cash

Petition updateAn Australian cash and banking guaranteeAustralia must follow other nations and protect cash

Jason BryceWILLIAMSTOWN, Australia

19 Nov 2023

There are now three federal government or senate inquiries that affect cash and all three now have no alternative but to recommend ways to protect our right to use and access cash.

Other nations are protecting their citizen's rights to access and/or use cash. Now Australia must follow and ensure the future viability of the cash system.

The United Kingdom

The United Kingdom has just guaranteed local access to cash for all citizens.

The UK government expects banks to provide an ATM within three miles of the vast majority of all citizens. His Majesty's Treasury announced on 18 August 2023:

"The vast majority of people and businesses are set to be no further than three miles away from withdrawing cash under a new framework set out by the Treasury.

A government statement published today (18 August 2023) set the minimum expectations on banks to protect services for people and businesses wanting to withdraw or deposit cash.

They can expect to withdraw cash without any fees – something that has been set out in law."

Europe

Cash acceptance at the retail point of sale is law throughout Europe. The European Union has a strategy to protect cash. But some countries don't believe this is enough and are acting by themselves and going further to protect the rights of their citizens to access and use cash, like France and Austria.

USA

A bill before Congress "The Payment Choice Act" seeks to ban cashless retailers in the USA. Washington D.C. and some other big cities like New York and San Francisco have already banned cashless retail.

Sweden

Sweden is the most cashless nation in the world but in 2021 has required the big banks to maintain ATMs in all regional towns.

It's time for Australia to follow other nations and protect our right to cash.

Please share our petition and encourage your friends to sign so our voice can't be ignored:

https://www.change.org/BankingAndCashGuarantee

Thanks

Jason Bryce

jason@cashwelcome.org

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