Overview
- From January 1, 2026, retailers that sell groceries or fuel must accept cash for in-person purchases of essentials.
- Acceptance applies to transactions of $500 or less made between 7am and 9pm, according to the announcement.
- Small businesses with annual turnover under $10 million are exempt, but franchised outlets using a major brand remain covered.
- Large chains including Coles and Woolworths are explicitly within scope of the rules.
- The government has pledged a three-year review after public consultation drew more than 4,000 submissions, citing RBA data showing cash’s share of payments fell from about 70% in 2007 to 13% in 2022.