Mandating Cash Acceptance
7 March 2025
On 21 February 2025, the Law Council lodged a submission with the Treasury in response to its Consultation Paper on mandating cash acceptance. The Consultation Paper sought comments on the Government’s intention to mandate that businesses supplying essential goods and services must accept cash as a payment method, with appropriate exemptions for small businesses.
The Law Council’s submission, which was informed by contributions from the Law Institute of Victoria and the Queensland Law Society, was supportive of the aim of guaranteeing that cash remains a viable and accessible in-person payment option for essential items. However, the submission queried several practical aspects of the application and scope of the proposed mandate, and consequently emphasised the importance of early and reasonable public consultation being conducted on exposure draft legislation.
The Law Council looks forward to continuing to engage with the Treasury as its consideration of this important proposal progresses. We will keep Constituent Bodies informed of any subsequent consultation processes.
Last Updated on 07/03/2025