It is disgusting that companies are now allowed under the guidelines of the ACCC and The Reserve Bank to choose not to accept cash and are therefore forcing the Australian people to pay by credit/debit card.

This is discrimination against people who either:

1.choose not to use a card and prefer to use cash

2. don’t  have have a card and can only pay with cash - for example - the elderly

3. can’t cope with or are unable/incapable of using a card and can only pay with cash; for example - people who suffer with a disability

A cashless society does not suit every Australian. People who can only pay with cash now feel disadvantaged, victimised and discriminated against by companies that refuse them service because they cannot use a card. 

We are supposed to be a free, democratic and inclusive society. It is a human right that all people be treated respectfully and equally and with equal opportunity. It is not ok to take away people’s freedom of choice and human rights. People should be allowed to choose whether they pay by cash or by card. Where is freedom of choice? One of the hallmarks of a free society is freedom of choice..not just what suits an organisation, but also what suits the customer! We can’t go on forever using COVID as an excuse. 

Companies often pass on transaction fees banks put on card transactions to the customer.  Also, cash is private. When one pays via credit/debit card, the Government knows: what one spends their money on, how much they spend, where one spends their money and when the purchase was made, which is an invasion of privacy. Has it been considered how customers will pay for their purchases when electronic systems go down?

It is very concerning that the banks are retracting their services by closing down branches and making it harder for people to obtain cash via limiting amounts people can withdraw from teller machines. Going cashless is the Government’s way of controlling all of us. It is criminal to deny people access to their money.

Cash is legal tender and has been part of our society for a long time. It should be made illegal for any company to not accept cash payments. To keep cash alive, please sign this petition