Jim Chalmers' cash mandate could be defeated in senate

Late last night government senators prevented a vote on a motion to disallow the cash mandate regulations moved by Senator Roberts.

This motion could be carried and Jim Chalmers' cash mandate could be defeated today. The cash mandate disallowance motion is back on the order of business for the senate today.

You can watch the whole of last night's debate from 6.50.00 in this video from yesterday's senate proceedings.

In particular, WA Labor Senator Ellie Whiteaker spoke at length about a range of issues and was called back to the question at hand more than once by the Acting Deputy Speaker.

WA Liberal Senator Slade Brockman spoke in support of a real cash mandate and pointed to all the nations now implementing real cash acceptance laws, like Spain, Norway, Denmark and Sweden.

Qld Labor Senator Corinne Mulholland also spoke at length about One Nation and a range of issues and was called back to the topic.

Victorian Labor Senator Lisa Darmanin said disallowing the cash mandate regulations would leave the nation without a cash mandate.

The cash mandate regulations are now on today's notice paper -as the last order of business. They are trying to avoid this issue coming to a vote for as long as possible.

This government is scared. They might not have enough support in the senate to pass this FAKE cash mandate.

This 'cash mandate' is possibly the weakest set of rules regarding cash acceptance ever introduced by a government.

Essentially, Jim Chalmers' cash mandate green lights the cashless society, while claiming to safeguard the role of cash.

Only large supermarkets and fuel retailers are covered by the new cash mandate. All other retailers are free to reject cash payments.

Retailers need support and encouragement from banks and governments to support our legal tender - notes and coins, not more pressure to reject cash and adopt digital-only payments.

Australia needs a guarantee that we can continue to choose cash for our budgeting and spending. 

Essentially, this cash mandate DOES NOT MANDATE CASH.

jason@cashwelcome.org