Cash Distribution Framework Bill 2026, Cash Distribution Framework (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2026
Dr MULINO (Fraser—Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services) (12:31): Firstly, I would like to thank those members who have contributed to this debate. I acknowledge the constructive engagement by the member for Page also. These bills establish a framework to designate, monitor, regulate and, in the event of a crisis, manage entities that have a significant role in Australia's cash distribution system.
Cash remains a valued payment method for many Australians, and safeguards are needed to support its ongoing availability. Together, the Cash Distribution Framework Bill 2026 and the Cash Distribution Framework (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2026—which are, together, 'the bills'—provide safeguards to sustain an efficient and resilient cash distribution system and respond to and manage threats to the ongoing availability of cash.
They ensure that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the ACCC, and the Reserve Bank of Australia can give effect to these arrangements. Firstly, the bills provide the RBA with powers to designate entities that play a significant role in the Australian cash distribution system. The bills create obligations for these designated entities when negotiating cash distribution service and access agreements and create a mechanism for the ACCC to approve standard terms for classes of these agreements.
The bills also enable the ACCC to determine dispute resolution requirements for designated entities and establish an arbitration process to resolve disagreements over terms. Together, these elements support good-faith negotiations and the timely resolution of disputes. The ACCC is further empowered to establish service-level standards to support fair and reliable access to cash across Australia.
Under the bills, the RBA is provided with powers to ensure the continuity of cash distribution services critical to the ongoing availability of cash as well as powers that help them prevent disruption to these services in the first place. This includes the power to step in and manage designated entities, to support the continuity of critical cash distribution services and to minimise disruption in the event of a crisis.
The bills also equip the ACCC and the RBA with information-gathering and enforcement powers to support compliance with the framework. I thank the Senate Economics Legislation Committee for its inquiry into the bills and note the additional comments of coalition senators. The committee made two recommendations: to provide clarity on the interaction between the cash distribution framework introduced in the bills and on any road transport contractual chain order; and to ensure consistency in references to the Australian Crime Commission.
The government has introduced amendments to the bills to clarify the interaction between the framework and any road transport contractual chain order. This will ensure that relevant Fair Work obligations are appropriately prioritised in the event of incompatibility with relevant elements of the cash distribution framework. Minor technical amendments have also been made for clarity, including to references to the Australian Crime Commission.
I commend these bills to the House. The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Fernando ): The original question was that this bill be now read a second time, to which the honourable member for Page moved as an amendment that all words after 'That' be omitted with a view to substituting other words. The honourable member for Clare has moved as an amendment to that amendment that all words after 'House' be omitted with a view to substituting other words.
I put the question. Question unresolved. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: As it is necessary to resolve this question to enable further questions to be considered in relation to this bill, in accordance with standing order 195 the bill will be returned to the House for further consideration.