Overview
- The central bank’s latest Consumer Payments Survey, released Monday, found cash made up about 15% of 2025 transactions by number, up from roughly 13% in 2022.
- Cash still accounts for a small share by value at about 8% and is mostly used for small, in‑person buys, with around one in four payments under $10 made in notes and coins.
- About half of Australians used cash in a typical week, around 1.5 million people are heavy cash users who pay mainly with notes, and many carry a median of $65 as a backup.
- Roughly a third of respondents said they would face hardship if cash were hard to access or not accepted, and three‑quarters keep cash on hand in case electronic payments fail.
- Policy and access are in flux as the government now requires cash acceptance for essentials, the RBA moves to scrap card surcharges with all‑in pricing, distribution relies on Armaguard, and advocates plan a ‘Cash Out Day’ to spotlight access concerns.