New laws to mandate Aussie supermarkets, servos to accept cash under massive money shake-up from January 2026

A major change is coming for Australia’s cash laws from next year – with major retailers now being forced to accept cash for groceries and fuel under the changes. Australians have slowly seen the country become an increasingly ‘cashless society’ in past years, with many business going card only. The trend was accelerated by the outbreak of the Covid pandemic, with many retailers moving away from physical cash. From January 1, 2026, the government has announced retailers who sell groceries or fuel will be forced to accept cash. “We’re making it mandatory for businesses to accept cash when they sell these essential items,” Treasurer Jim Chalmers said in a statement. “It will ensure Australians who depend on cash for fuel and groceries aren’t left behind.” Coles and Woolworths are just some of the large retailers that will be required to accept cash under the new laws. The mandate comes after the Reserve Bank of Australia reported in 2022 that cash transactions made up just 13% of all payments. That number is a huge drop from 2007 when just under 70 per cent of payments were made in cash. However, the new changes don’t apply to everyone. Small businesses with annual turnover under $10 million will be exempted from the mandate, meaning that your local cafe, bakery or takeaway shop may stick to card only payments.