We're delivering on our commitment to mandate cash acceptance for essential purchases by finalising regulations that require fuel and grocery retailers to accept cash from 1 January 2026.
We're making it mandatory for businesses to accept cash when they sell these essential items.
This will help to ensure Australians can continue to pay with cash for essentials if they want to.
It will ensure Australians who depend on cash for fuel and groceries aren't left behind.
Community feedback confirmed grocery and fuel purchases are essential and today's changes mean that from 1 January 2026, most retailers must accept cash for in‑person transactions of $500 or less between 7am and 9pm.
Small businesses with aggregate annual turnover under $10 million will be exempted from the mandate, however, the mandate will apply to small businesses that choose to share a trademark with a larger retailer.
