The Hon. Jim Chalmers, Treasurer of Australia, Media Release, 14 December 2025

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.

In addition to the cash mandate for fuel and groceries, consumers also already have the option to pay their bills, including utilities, phone bills and council rates, in cash at their local Australia Post outlet through Post Billpay on the current terms of this service.

Billpay is available at post offices across Australia and is relied on by businesses and government agencies, including utility providers and government entities across local, state and Commonwealth levels.

The Government will review the mandate after three years, to ensure it is functioning as intended.

You should be able to pay with cash if you need to, and that’s what these regulations are all about.