Cash is King! Proclaims KAP

20 March 2024

Moves towards a fully cashless society must be immediately stopped, and the right to use cash must be safeguarded, Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) Leader and Traeger MP Robbie Katter has said.

In a motion put to the Queensland Parliament today, the KAP have called on the House to condemn any move away from cash, insisting that all State Government offices, including all Department service centres, and State-owned sports and recreation facilities must accept cash.

“We know that the Reserve Bank of Australia’s statistics say the largest users of cash in our society are the elderly, those on low incomes, and people in rural remote areas.” Mr Katter said.

“With BankWest closing all 60 of its branches in Western Australia we know that it’s only a matter of time before we see the same in Queensland.

“Be it for security, for transactions during our North Queensland natural disasters, or supporting our rural communities, cash must remain king here in Queensland.”

KAP Deputy Leader and Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto said that today Queensland’s politicians must decide if they back cash, or a cashless society.

“Coming from North Queensland, we experience frequent natural disasters which play havoc with our telecommunications,” Mr Dametto said.

“It only take three cuts in the fibre line, and all electronic transactions are offline – sometimes for months!

“As well as supporting access to cash, we want to make sure Queenslanders have the opportunity to use cash at all government offices and venues.”

Hill MP Shane Knuth has said that it is imperative that small businesses are protected from greedy banks and their merchant fees.

“We can see councils and the state Government attempting steps to move to a cashless society, with closures of branches and offices across rural Queensland.

“If we do not stand up and protest now, we will see a domino effect right across the state,” he said.

KAP Leader and Traeger MP Robbie Katter said “Freedom is a core pillar of the KAP, and we stand to protect Queenslanders’ choice to use cash.

“A cashless society should never be allowed in Queensland.”

Motion to Queensland Parliament, 20 March 2024:

1. Notes that cash is legal tenure accepted in Queensland;
2. Openly supports the rights to use cash as a lawful form of payment throughout Queensland;
3. Calls on the State government to take immediate steps to mandate that all State Government offices, including all Department service centres, and State-owned sports and recreation facilities, must accept cash as a legal method of payment; and
4. Condemns any move by local or federal governments to move toward a cashless society.

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