Supermarket giant Woolworths has abandoned a controversial trial of cashless stores following complaints from shoppers who still want to use notes and coins to buy their groceries.
6,000 people signed a One Nation petition calling on Woolworths to ditch their cash ban. It followed on from One Nation successfully defeating a proposal in parliament late last year to completely ban cash transactions over $10,000.
International banks might try to push everyone further to a cashless society, but Australians know better.
Cash is legal tender and I will continue to fight against any attempt to make it illegal.
One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts’ motion to bin the Cash Ban bill received triumphant support in the Senate today.
The Currency (Restrictions on the Use of Cash) Bill would have banned the use of cash for transactions over $10,000 and put in place hefty fines and jail terms for breaches.
Senator Roberts said, “This is a fantastic win for all Australians, particularly rural and elderly Australians where the use of cash is still prevalent.”
“Even the Government’s own Committee Inquiry said that the bill was out of step with Australian values and was totally impractical.”
Senator Malcolm Roberts has been persistently vocal in the fight against this bill since August 2019.
“This bill was never about tackling crime or money laundering, and instead criminalised the use of legal tender, cash, for everyday Australians.
“Australians now retain their right and freedom to use cash with the bill now officially dead,” added Senator Roberts.
One Nation received a ground swell of support from a wide range of Australian communities for whom the use of cash is cultural.
Senator Roberts said, “I would like to thank the many groups who organised community campaigns against the cash ban bill including the Citizens Party, the John Adams and Martin North show, Heise Says, Nugget’s News, Taxpayer’s Alliance, Bank Reform Now and The Bitcoin community.”
While cash transactions over $10,000 must still be reported to AUSTRAC, it is timely to remind retailers with Christmas on the horizon that cash is legal tender and ought to be accepted from consumers. “One Nation’s resolve and persistence to stand in defending the rights of everyday Australians has won the day.”
