Hi Cash Lovers, 

All retailers must accept cash or the cash acceptance mandate won't work in the long term.

Right now, the Albanese government is trying to define what is essential and therefore subject to the cash acceptance mandate.

But the list they have proposed (on page 16 of their consultation paper) for 'essential' and 'non-essential' goods and services raises as many questions as answers:

Essential good or service:

• Most bread and cereal products; all meat and seafood; milk and cheese; all fruit and vegetables; most other food products; and coffee, tea and cocoa
• Garments and footwear for infants and children
• Utilities: including water and sewerage, electricity, gas and other household fuels; and dwelling maintenance and repair services
• Childcare; cleaning and maintenance products; and personal care products
• Medicines, medical products, appliances and equipment; and medical, dental, and allied health services
• Automotive fuel, spare parts and accessories; and automotive maintenance and repair services
• Postal services (excluding parcel services); and telecommunications equipment and services
• Pets; pet products; and veterinary services for pets
• Preschool, primary and secondary education
• Compulsory insurance associated with another essential item (e.g., unbundled compulsory third-party insurance)

Non-essential good or service

• Cakes and biscuits; snacks and confectionery; ice cream and other dairy products; and soft drinks and juices; and meals out and take away foods
• All alcoholic beverages and tobacco
• Garments, footwear, accessories and jewellery for women and men; and tailoring, dry cleaning and shoe repairs
• Furniture and furnishings; household textiles; household appliances; utensils and tools; and hairdressing services
• Private hospital services
• Motor vehicles and transport services
• Audio, visual and computing equipment and services; newspapers, books and stationery; holiday travel and accommodation; sporting, camping, boating and recreational activities and equipment; games, toys and hobbies; galleries, museums, parks and gardens; creative and performing arts; and gambling activities
• Vocational education and training; and higher education
   

Car repairs and fuel are essential, but not cars? Tea and coffee are essential but not water, juice and alcohol? Insurance is essential but not clothing and footwear?

This won't work.

And the cash system will continue be under pressure from banks and other payment providers who want to profit from our cashless payments.

Please email Albo today (before 14th February and tell him: ALL RETAILERS MUST ACCEPT CASH:

CashAcceptanceConsultation@treasury.gov.au

And PLEASE SHARE OUR PETITION:

https://www.change.org/SayNOtoCashlessAustralia

If you can spare a small donation, this campaign is really getting busy and I'm racking up the expenses :)

Please help keep us going with a small donation to our Cash Welcome gofundme account.

Or duck into the Commonwealth Bank/send a direct deposit to:

Cash Welcome
BSB 062-692
AC 4954 6502

Yours sincerely and thanks

Jason

jason@cashwelcome.org