Hi Cash Lovers,

The Reserve Bank of Australia reports that the amount of cash circulating in Australia rose by almost half a billion dollars last week.

Total value of notes on issue rose by $477 million dollars to $106.2 billion on the 23rd October 2025.

This is a new all-time record. Never before has there been $106 billion of Australian notes on issue.

Demand for cash is strong.

No wonder there is widespread concern about the impact the government's proposed 'cash mandate' will have on our ability to use and access cash.

In the last week, I have been talking to media in all states about the Albanese government's draft 'cash mandate' regulations.

The government is calling these regulations a 'cash mandate' despite the fact they don't generally mandate cash acceptance and don't mention cash access.

The government's proposed 'cash mandate' will only apply to:

Large supermarkets

Large fuel retailers

Transactions under $500

These retailers only have to provide one terminal that accepts cash payments.

The 'cash mandate' will NOT apply to 99% of our payments. The draft regulations exclude:

Pharmacies, doctors, medical clinics.

Big retailers - eg: KMart, Bunnings, Chemist Warehouse, Tyrepower, Harvey Norman, etc

Governments and councils - eg: Fees, fines, rates, licenses, registrations.

Corporations - eg: Banks, insurers, lenders etc.

Any other retailer - eg: car repair, newsagents, clothing, footwear, household goods, McDonalds, KFC, etc.

Any other service provider - eg: Landlords, pools, sports stadiums, clubs, pubs, restaurants, etc etc etc ...

Since announcing the 'cash mandate' (prior to the last election) the government seems to have changed tack and decided that cash should not be mandated at all.

Treasury is accepting submissions from the public about this 'cash mandate'  UNTIL FRIDAY this week.

This is the link to send in a submission to the Treasury about this so-called 'cash mandate.'

I'm making a submission and telling the government:

1) The cash mandate needs to apply to ALL physical retailers.
 

2) The current proposal leaves out medicines, housing, utility bills and many other essential items we need to LIVE. The cash mandate needs to apply to ALL ESSENTIALS at the very minimum.

3) The current proposal is clearly designed to allow retailers to reject cash payments.

4) If retailers can claim it's too hard to accept cash, banks will make sure its hard and cash will disappear.
 

5) Supermarkets need to have at least 50% of their terminals ready to accept cash.
 

6) The $500 limit is TOO LOW. There's plenty of essential bills we pay that cost more than $500.

Thank you and yours sincerely, 

Jason Bryce
jason@cashwelcome.org
 

PS: Please donate some spare change to help me fight the cashless society:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/keep-cashwelcomeorg-fighting-the-war-on-cash

Or make a deposit to my Commonwealth Bank account:

Cash Welcome
BSB 062-692
AC 4954 6502