Cash Distribution Framework Bill 2026, Cash Distribution Framework (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2026
Ms JARRETT (Brisbane) (10:32): I finished my contribution last night by saying that many rural communities still experience unreliable telecommunications. Just this week, it was reported that telecommunications across the western cape suffered another outage just hours after services were restored following a bushfire which brought services down over the weekend.
Electronic payment terminals are only as reliable as the networks supporting them. Cash provides certainty. Labor understands that Australians living outside major cities deserve the same access to essential goods, regardless of technology limitations.
Older Australians also benefit significantly. While many seniors happily embrace digital banking, many others remain comfortable using cash. That preference deserves respect.
No Australian should feel excluded simply because they don't use the latest payment technology. Labor believes inclusion means ensuring everyone can participate in the economy, not just those who are digitally connected. The reforms also help Australians experiencing financial hardship.
Community organisations have long recognised that physical cash can be an effective budgeting tool. People leaving situations involving financial control or domestic violence, people recovering from gambling addiction, people rebuilding after a financial crisis—for these Australians, cash provides an essential means to buy food and pay for medicines and greater control over their personal finances.
By protecting access to cash, our government is also protecting financial choice. Importantly, our reforms do strike a sensible balance. We have not required every business in Australia to accept cash.
Instead, we focused on essential purchases, fuel and groceries, the items that Australians simply cannot live without. It recognises that businesses also face costs when handling cash—costs associated with security, banking, transport, insurance, staff time et cetera. Labor acknowledges these realities by exempting many small businesses with turnover below $10 million while requiring larger retailers selling essential goods to continue accepting cash.
We want to protect consumers. We want to support vulnerable Australians but also recognise the practical challenges faced by businesses. Our government also recognises that accepting cash means very little if cash cannot actually reach communities.
As Australians increasingly use digital payments, transporting cash around the country has become more expensive. Fewer companies now provide these services. Without government action, there was a genuine risk Australia's cash distribution system could become unsustainable.
That's why, with this bill, our government is establishing a national framework to protect Australia's cash distribution network. This legislation helps ensure ATMs remain stocked, retailers continue receiving cash deliveries and Australians maintain reliable access to notes and coins into the future. Most of us have probably had the experience of going to an ATM when you need the cash, only to find it closed.
All of a sudden we're stranded, and then we start thinking: 'Where is the closest ATM? I wonder if it's closed.' Our heads then go to: 'What if I can't get any cash? Who can I ask a favour of?
Who can I borrow from?' It can go on and on, creating fear and anxiety. There is no excuse. These reforms are about protecting critical infrastructure.
When we think about infrastructure, we often think about roads and ports and railways, electricity and telecommunications. But cash distribution is also part of Australia's economic infrastructure. If people cannot access cash or use cash when they need it, consumer choice is reduced and economic resilience is weakened.
That is why our government is ensuring cash remains available even as payment habits evolve. I mention consumer choice as it really is another important aspect of these reforms. It is not about forcing Australians to use cash.
If somebody prefers a digital wallet or to use their watch, that's perfectly fine. If another person prefers cash, though, that should also be respected, and we believe Australians should have both options. Freedom of choice is strengthened when governments preserve alternatives rather than allowing one system to eliminate another.
The reforms also recognise an important principle: technology should serve people. People should not become servants to technology. Innovation is valuable; we all know that.
Digital payment has transformed commerce. It has also transformed how we shop, how we work and how we entertain ourselves. But governments do have a responsibility to ensure innovation remains inclusive, and that means protecting Australians who continue to rely on cash while embracing modern payment technologies.
Now, some critics have argued that these reforms are unnecessary because cash use is declining, but declining does not mean disappearing. The Reserve Bank data showed millions of Australians still use cash every week, particularly for budgeting, emergencies and smaller purchases. I don't know about you, but I love a good fete, and in fact we have lots of them across Brisbane.
I can assure you I am often putting my hand in my pocket, pulling out a few dollars to pay for a game of hoops, a jar of bickies or maybe a pair of handmade earrings. These schools rely on these wonderful community activities to raise money for much-needed books or playground facilities. They rely on us having cash.
Labor recognises that even if cash becomes less common, it does remain critically important. Sometimes public policy isn't about serving the majority; it's about ensuring minorities aren't excluded. And that's exactly what these reforms achieve.
Others have argued the reforms should have applied to every business. We instead chose to a targeted approach: essential purchases first, protect Australians where it matters most, and review the policies over time. That demonstrates responsible government, carefully balancing consumer protection with business practicality.
We have also committed to reviewing the cash acceptance mandate after three years to ensure it remains effective and fit for purpose. Good governments don't simply introduce reforms and walk away. They monitor, they listen to stakeholders, they listen to consumers, and they improve policies where necessary.
Ultimately, this issue is about more than banknotes and coins; it's about inclusion and choice. In closing, the Albanese Labor government believes Australians should never be denied access to essential goods simply because they choose to pay with legal Australian currency. That's why Labor has protected the right to use cash for essential purchases.
That's why Labor is safeguarding Australia's cash distribution. And it's why Labor is ensuring, even in an increasingly digital economy, no Australian is left behind. Technology will continue to evolve, and payment methods will continue to change.
Fairness, accessibility and consumer choice should always remain at the heart of public policy. Labor's cash reforms reflect those values. They modernise Australia's payment system while preserving an important choice for millions of Australians.
They protect vulnerable people, they strengthen resilience during emergencies, they support regional communities, they recognise that people need choice, and they demonstrate that progress and inclusion can go hand in hand. I commend the bill to the House.