Queensland residents draws to the attention of the House that a number of Queensland councils and businesses have adopted ‘cashless’ policies that mean they will no longer accept cash for financial transactions. This policy is discriminatory and denies people the right to choose how they wish to pay for goods and services. Cash is legal tender and many people prefer to use it. Cash is safe, private, reliable, surcharge free and a handy back-up for when other payment systems fail or malfunction. Keeping cash is in the long-term interests of Queenslanders’ human rights, freedom and independence. It is also in the long-term interests of the safety, stability and fairness of the Australian payment system. 

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to call on the Government to introduce legislation that will make it illegal for any company, council or business to refuse to accept cash (subject to existing regulations) as legal tender in Queensland.