Australia's rapid transition towards a cashless society has always been met with a wave of criticism. But following the nationwide Optus outage, which left millions of Aussies unable to make digital transactions, this criticism has turned into outrage.

The incident also ignited a heated debate about the country's readiness to abandon cash entirely, with many arguing that the outage underscores the importance of maintaining a dual system of cash and digital payments.

The Optus network failure, which occurred on November 8, left approximately 10 million users unable to make or receive calls, send texts, or access the internet for over nine hours.

The outage had a domino effect, crippling thousands of businesses across the country that rely on EFTPOS machines for transactions. As a result, customers were forced to revert to cash payments.

The Optus outage affected several businesses that rely on EFTPOS machines for transactions. Credit: @giggles_in_the_dark/TikTok

The incident has led to criticism of the ongoing reduction of ATMs and bank branches, making it increasingly difficult for consumers to withdraw cash.

A social media user captured the sentiment of many Australians, expressing her frustration outside an IGA store that had put up a 'Cash Only...EFTPOS is down' sign due to the outage.

'The fact this still happens, and yet the Australian government is removing banks and ATMs to make it even harder to get cash out is such a f****d thing to do,' the user said in a video.

'Make society cashless, no, f****ng we need cash,' she added.

The video resonated with thousands of viewers, many of whom agreed that despite the increasing prevalence of electronic transactions, cash remains a necessary fallback option.

'[November 8] proved to everybody that the world is f****d without cash when computer systems have glitches [...] Hackers can fix the problem,' one user commented.

The Optus outage has also drawn attention to the steady decline of ATMs and bank branches in regional parts of Australia.

Data from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority revealed that 424 bank branches closed in the year to June, and since 2017, 1,600 bank branches have closed across Australia.

Business owners also have the same sentiments towards cashless transactions. Peggy Zaromias, the owner of Nick's Handbags in Bankstown, Sydney, stated that abandoning cash would significantly impact many small and family-run businesses.

'I'm old-school—I still prefer cash, not just business-wise but for everything,' Ms Zaromias shared. 'When they turn around and say, “We're going to go cashless”—well, that's ridiculous. If something like (the Optus crash) happens, then what?'

Despite the backlash, some believe that going cashless is inevitable. Independent Payments Market Expert Lance Blockley estimated that by 2025, traditional cash would make up less than 4 per cent of total retail purchases across the country.

Major banks like the Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, and NAB have already opened cashless branches where customers are directed to ATMs for 'everyday banking'.

While digital transactions offer convenience and efficiency, the reliance on technology exposed consumers and businesses to potential disruptions.

As Australia continues its march towards becoming a cashless society, it's crucial to ensure that adequate safeguards are in place to prevent similar incidents from causing widespread disruption in the future.

Key Takeaways

• The recent Optus network outage forced many Australians to revert back to cash payments, sparking frustrations about the country's rapid move towards becoming a cashless society.
  
• The blackout, which affected at least 10 million users for more than nine hours, leaving businesses unable to operate their EFTPOS machines, resulted in Australians expressing their concerns about the reduction of ATMs and bank branches.
  
• Several online users and business owners opposed a cashless economy, emphasising that cash remains essential for system outages.
  
• Despite the outage, experts predict that by 2025, traditional cash will make up less than 4 per cent of total retail purchases across the country, with some banks even opening cashless branches.
  

What are your thoughts on this issue, members? How were you affected by the Optus outage? Do you believe Australia is ready to go cashless, or do you think cash still has a place in our society? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

 

[Leenie]

Australia's rapid transition towards a cashless society has always been met with a wave of criticism. But following the nationwide Optus outage, which left millions of Aussies unable to make digital transactions, this criticism has turned into outrage.

The incident also ignited a heated debate about the country's readiness to abandon cash entirely, with many arguing that the outage underscores the importance of maintaining a dual system of cash and digital payments.

The Optus network failure, which occurred on November 8, left approximately 10 million users unable to make or receive calls, send texts, or access the internet for over nine hours.

The outage had a domino effect, crippling thousands of businesses across the country that rely on EFTPOS machines for transactions. As a result, customers were forced to revert to cash payments.

View attachment 34480

The Optus outage affected several businesses that rely on EFTPOS machines for transactions. Credit: @giggles_in_the_dark/TikTok

The incident has led to criticism of the ongoing reduction of ATMs and bank branches, making it increasingly difficult for consumers to withdraw cash.

A social media user captured the sentiment of many Australians, expressing her frustration outside an IGA store that had put up a 'Cash Only...EFTPOS is down' sign due to the outage.

'The fact this still happens, and yet the Australian government is removing banks and ATMs to make it even harder to get cash out is such a f****d thing to do,' the user said in a video.

'Make society cashless, no, f****ng we need cash,' she added.

The video resonated with thousands of viewers, many of whom agreed that despite the increasing prevalence of electronic transactions, cash remains a necessary fallback option.

'[November 8] proved to everybody that the world is f****d without cash when computer systems have glitches [...] Hackers can fix the problem,' one user commented.

The Optus outage has also drawn attention to the steady decline of ATMs and bank branches in regional parts of Australia.

Data from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority revealed that 424 bank branches closed in the year to June, and since 2017, 1,600 bank branches have closed across Australia.

Business owners also have the same sentiments towards cashless transactions. Peggy Zaromias, the owner of Nick's Handbags in Bankstown, Sydney, stated that abandoning cash would significantly impact many small and family-run businesses.

'I'm old-school—I still prefer cash, not just business-wise but for everything,' Ms Zaromias shared. 'When they turn around and say, “We're going to go cashless”—well, that's ridiculous. If something like (the Optus crash) happens, then what?'

Despite the backlash, some believe that going cashless is inevitable. Independent Payments Market Expert Lance Blockley estimated that by 2025, traditional cash would make up less than 4 per cent of total retail purchases across the country.

Major banks like the Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, and NAB have already opened cashless branches where customers are directed to ATMs for 'everyday banking'.

While digital transactions offer convenience and efficiency, the reliance on technology exposed consumers and businesses to potential disruptions.

As Australia continues its march towards becoming a cashless society, it's crucial to ensure that adequate safeguards are in place to prevent similar incidents from causing widespread disruption in the future.

Key Takeaways

• The recent Optus network outage forced many Australians to revert back to cash payments, sparking frustrations about the country's rapid move towards becoming a cashless society.
• The blackout, which affected at least 10 million users for more than nine hours, leaving businesses unable to operate their EFTPOS machines, resulted in Australians expressing their concerns about the reduction of ATMs and bank branches.
• Several online users and business owners opposed a cashless economy, emphasising that cash remains essential for system outages.
• Despite the outage, experts predict that by 2025, traditional cash will make up less than 4 per cent of total retail purchases across the country, with some banks even opening cashless branches.

What are your thoughts on this issue, members? How were you affected by the Optus outage? Do you believe Australia is ready to go cashless, or do you think cash still has a place in our society? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Cash will always be part of our lives ,going cashless is another way Government is going to control everything we. Do another part of ONE WORLD ORDER , Governments are just following orders as they always do , remember COVID they all spoke from the same rule book.

 

[Tye Tye]

Australia's rapid transition towards a cashless society has always been met with a wave of criticism. But following the nationwide Optus outage, which left millions of Aussies unable to make digital transactions, this criticism has turned into outrage.

The incident also ignited a heated debate about the country's readiness to abandon cash entirely, with many arguing that the outage underscores the importance of maintaining a dual system of cash and digital payments.

The Optus network failure, which occurred on November 8, left approximately 10 million users unable to make or receive calls, send texts, or access the internet for over nine hours.

The outage had a domino effect, crippling thousands of businesses across the country that rely on EFTPOS machines for transactions. As a result, customers were forced to revert to cash payments.

View attachment 34480

The Optus outage affected several businesses that rely on EFTPOS machines for transactions. Credit: @giggles_in_the_dark/TikTok

The incident has led to criticism of the ongoing reduction of ATMs and bank branches, making it increasingly difficult for consumers to withdraw cash.

A social media user captured the sentiment of many Australians, expressing her frustration outside an IGA store that had put up a 'Cash Only...EFTPOS is down' sign due to the outage.

'The fact this still happens, and yet the Australian government is removing banks and ATMs to make it even harder to get cash out is such a f****d thing to do,' the user said in a video.

'Make society cashless, no, f****ng we need cash,' she added.

The video resonated with thousands of viewers, many of whom agreed that despite the increasing prevalence of electronic transactions, cash remains a necessary fallback option.

'[November 8] proved to everybody that the world is f****d without cash when computer systems have glitches [...] Hackers can fix the problem,' one user commented.

The Optus outage has also drawn attention to the steady decline of ATMs and bank branches in regional parts of Australia.

Data from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority revealed that 424 bank branches closed in the year to June, and since 2017, 1,600 bank branches have closed across Australia.

Business owners also have the same sentiments towards cashless transactions. Peggy Zaromias, the owner of Nick's Handbags in Bankstown, Sydney, stated that abandoning cash would significantly impact many small and family-run businesses.

'I'm old-school—I still prefer cash, not just business-wise but for everything,' Ms Zaromias shared. 'When they turn around and say, “We're going to go cashless”—well, that's ridiculous. If something like (the Optus crash) happens, then what?'

Despite the backlash, some believe that going cashless is inevitable. Independent Payments Market Expert Lance Blockley estimated that by 2025, traditional cash would make up less than 4 per cent of total retail purchases across the country.

Major banks like the Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, and NAB have already opened cashless branches where customers are directed to ATMs for 'everyday banking'.

While digital transactions offer convenience and efficiency, the reliance on technology exposed consumers and businesses to potential disruptions.

As Australia continues its march towards becoming a cashless society, it's crucial to ensure that adequate safeguards are in place to prevent similar incidents from causing widespread disruption in the future.

Key Takeaways

• The recent Optus network outage forced many Australians to revert back to cash payments, sparking frustrations about the country's rapid move towards becoming a cashless society.
• The blackout, which affected at least 10 million users for more than nine hours, leaving businesses unable to operate their EFTPOS machines, resulted in Australians expressing their concerns about the reduction of ATMs and bank branches.
• Several online users and business owners opposed a cashless economy, emphasising that cash remains essential for system outages.
• Despite the outage, experts predict that by 2025, traditional cash will make up less than 4 per cent of total retail purchases across the country, with some banks even opening cashless branches.

What are your thoughts on this issue, members? How were you affected by the Optus outage? Do you believe Australia is ready to go cashless, or do you think cash still has a place in our society? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Cannot the people see that there is ample proof that cash & card can can be used together , on line banking is open to every hacker ,A cyber attack on banks , then what , Australia comes to a standstill , cashless , NO<NO, NO .

 

[Marvin Kombi]

OMG! Yet another thing in this crazy mixed up world to worry about. As if having to tread carefully in this world for fear of being scammed online, now the government (in their stupidity) decide that it is a great idea to go cashless and force everyone to partake in an extremely risky method of paying for things. All I can say is: God help the first person who rejects my paying cash! And: God help the leaders of this country if ever I become a victim of a scam as a result of this decision!
They would need to implement an absolute scam-proof system before I will consent to a cashless society. Something along the lines of fingerprint or eye recognition. A system that uses some kind of hack-proof technology.
Even my iPhone has a fingerprint accessibility feature. Surely something similar can be implemented on a widespread scale. Perhaps something that uses face, eye and fingerprint recognition. Who knows, but their has to be a hack-proof system.

 

[Shane/#]

Australia's rapid transition towards a cashless society has always been met with a wave of criticism. But following the nationwide Optus outage, which left millions of Aussies unable to make digital transactions, this criticism has turned into outrage.

The incident also ignited a heated debate about the country's readiness to abandon cash entirely, with many arguing that the outage underscores the importance of maintaining a dual system of cash and digital payments.

The Optus network failure, which occurred on November 8, left approximately 10 million users unable to make or receive calls, send texts, or access the internet for over nine hours.

The outage had a domino effect, crippling thousands of businesses across the country that rely on EFTPOS machines for transactions. As a result, customers were forced to revert to cash payments.

View attachment 34480

The Optus outage affected several businesses that rely on EFTPOS machines for transactions. Credit: @giggles_in_the_dark/TikTok

The incident has led to criticism of the ongoing reduction of ATMs and bank branches, making it increasingly difficult for consumers to withdraw cash.

A social media user captured the sentiment of many Australians, expressing her frustration outside an IGA store that had put up a 'Cash Only...EFTPOS is down' sign due to the outage.

'The fact this still happens, and yet the Australian government is removing banks and ATMs to make it even harder to get cash out is such a f****d thing to do,' the user said in a video.

'Make society cashless, no, f****ng we need cash,' she added.

The video resonated with thousands of viewers, many of whom agreed that despite the increasing prevalence of electronic transactions, cash remains a necessary fallback option.

'[November 8] proved to everybody that the world is f****d without cash when computer systems have glitches [...] Hackers can fix the problem,' one user commented.

The Optus outage has also drawn attention to the steady decline of ATMs and bank branches in regional parts of Australia.

Data from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority revealed that 424 bank branches closed in the year to June, and since 2017, 1,600 bank branches have closed across Australia.

Business owners also have the same sentiments towards cashless transactions. Peggy Zaromias, the owner of Nick's Handbags in Bankstown, Sydney, stated that abandoning cash would significantly impact many small and family-run businesses.

'I'm old-school—I still prefer cash, not just business-wise but for everything,' Ms Zaromias shared. 'When they turn around and say, “We're going to go cashless”—well, that's ridiculous. If something like (the Optus crash) happens, then what?'

Despite the backlash, some believe that going cashless is inevitable. Independent Payments Market Expert Lance Blockley estimated that by 2025, traditional cash would make up less than 4 per cent of total retail purchases across the country.

Major banks like the Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, and NAB have already opened cashless branches where customers are directed to ATMs for 'everyday banking'.

While digital transactions offer convenience and efficiency, the reliance on technology exposed consumers and businesses to potential disruptions.

As Australia continues its march towards becoming a cashless society, it's crucial to ensure that adequate safeguards are in place to prevent similar incidents from causing widespread disruption in the future.

Key Takeaways

• The recent Optus network outage forced many Australians to revert back to cash payments, sparking frustrations about the country's rapid move towards becoming a cashless society.
• The blackout, which affected at least 10 million users for more than nine hours, leaving businesses unable to operate their EFTPOS machines, resulted in Australians expressing their concerns about the reduction of ATMs and bank branches.
• Several online users and business owners opposed a cashless economy, emphasising that cash remains essential for system outages.
• Despite the outage, experts predict that by 2025, traditional cash will make up less than 4 per cent of total retail purchases across the country, with some banks even opening cashless branches.

What are your thoughts on this issue, members? How were you affected by the Optus outage? Do you believe Australia is ready to go cashless, or do you think cash still has a place in our society? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Question how is it the government closing banks and ATM's the banks are doing it not the government anyhow brainless fool's want a cashless society cyber attach no transactions get real you fool's it laziness that's pushing this humanity relying on technology and control from big brother who will know in the end how many time's you take a they talk about sheep jumping of a cliff following one idiots

 

[Annna]

There is a place for cash in the community. The Optus crash proved that.

 

[waynegjones]

Australia's rapid transition towards a cashless society has always been met with a wave of criticism. But following the nationwide Optus outage, which left millions of Aussies unable to make digital transactions, this criticism has turned into outrage.

The incident also ignited a heated debate about the country's readiness to abandon cash entirely, with many arguing that the outage underscores the importance of maintaining a dual system of cash and digital payments.

The Optus network failure, which occurred on November 8, left approximately 10 million users unable to make or receive calls, send texts, or access the internet for over nine hours.

The outage had a domino effect, crippling thousands of businesses across the country that rely on EFTPOS machines for transactions. As a result, customers were forced to revert to cash payments.

View attachment 34480

The Optus outage affected several businesses that rely on EFTPOS machines for transactions. Credit: @giggles_in_the_dark/TikTok

The incident has led to criticism of the ongoing reduction of ATMs and bank branches, making it increasingly difficult for consumers to withdraw cash.

A social media user captured the sentiment of many Australians, expressing her frustration outside an IGA store that had put up a 'Cash Only...EFTPOS is down' sign due to the outage.

'The fact this still happens, and yet the Australian government is removing banks and ATMs to make it even harder to get cash out is such a f****d thing to do,' the user said in a video.

'Make society cashless, no, f****ng we need cash,' she added.

The video resonated with thousands of viewers, many of whom agreed that despite the increasing prevalence of electronic transactions, cash remains a necessary fallback option.

'[November 8] proved to everybody that the world is f****d without cash when computer systems have glitches [...] Hackers can fix the problem,' one user commented.

The Optus outage has also drawn attention to the steady decline of ATMs and bank branches in regional parts of Australia.

Data from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority revealed that 424 bank branches closed in the year to June, and since 2017, 1,600 bank branches have closed across Australia.

Business owners also have the same sentiments towards cashless transactions. Peggy Zaromias, the owner of Nick's Handbags in Bankstown, Sydney, stated that abandoning cash would significantly impact many small and family-run businesses.

'I'm old-school—I still prefer cash, not just business-wise but for everything,' Ms Zaromias shared. 'When they turn around and say, “We're going to go cashless”—well, that's ridiculous. If something like (the Optus crash) happens, then what?'

Despite the backlash, some believe that going cashless is inevitable. Independent Payments Market Expert Lance Blockley estimated that by 2025, traditional cash would make up less than 4 per cent of total retail purchases across the country.

Major banks like the Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, and NAB have already opened cashless branches where customers are directed to ATMs for 'everyday banking'.

While digital transactions offer convenience and efficiency, the reliance on technology exposed consumers and businesses to potential disruptions.

As Australia continues its march towards becoming a cashless society, it's crucial to ensure that adequate safeguards are in place to prevent similar incidents from causing widespread disruption in the future.

Key Takeaways

• The recent Optus network outage forced many Australians to revert back to cash payments, sparking frustrations about the country's rapid move towards becoming a cashless society.
• The blackout, which affected at least 10 million users for more than nine hours, leaving businesses unable to operate their EFTPOS machines, resulted in Australians expressing their concerns about the reduction of ATMs and bank branches.
• Several online users and business owners opposed a cashless economy, emphasising that cash remains essential for system outages.
• Despite the outage, experts predict that by 2025, traditional cash will make up less than 4 per cent of total retail purchases across the country, with some banks even opening cashless branches.

What are your thoughts on this issue, members? How were you affected by the Optus outage? Do you believe Australia is ready to go cashless, or do you think cash still has a place in our society? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

 

[David Otto]

Australia's rapid transition towards a cashless society has always been met with a wave of criticism. But following the nationwide Optus outage, which left millions of Aussies unable to make digital transactions, this criticism has turned into outrage.

The incident also ignited a heated debate about the country's readiness to abandon cash entirely, with many arguing that the outage underscores the importance of maintaining a dual system of cash and digital payments.

The Optus network failure, which occurred on November 8, left approximately 10 million users unable to make or receive calls, send texts, or access the internet for over nine hours.

The outage had a domino effect, crippling thousands of businesses across the country that rely on EFTPOS machines for transactions. As a result, customers were forced to revert to cash payments.

View attachment 34480

The Optus outage affected several businesses that rely on EFTPOS machines for transactions. Credit: @giggles_in_the_dark/TikTok

The incident has led to criticism of the ongoing reduction of ATMs and bank branches, making it increasingly difficult for consumers to withdraw cash.

A social media user captured the sentiment of many Australians, expressing her frustration outside an IGA store that had put up a 'Cash Only...EFTPOS is down' sign due to the outage.

'The fact this still happens, and yet the Australian government is removing banks and ATMs to make it even harder to get cash out is such a f****d thing to do,' the user said in a video.

'Make society cashless, no, f****ng we need cash,' she added.

The video resonated with thousands of viewers, many of whom agreed that despite the increasing prevalence of electronic transactions, cash remains a necessary fallback option.

'[November 8] proved to everybody that the world is f****d without cash when computer systems have glitches [...] Hackers can fix the problem,' one user commented.

The Optus outage has also drawn attention to the steady decline of ATMs and bank branches in regional parts of Australia.

Data from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority revealed that 424 bank branches closed in the year to June, and since 2017, 1,600 bank branches have closed across Australia.

Business owners also have the same sentiments towards cashless transactions. Peggy Zaromias, the owner of Nick's Handbags in Bankstown, Sydney, stated that abandoning cash would significantly impact many small and family-run businesses.

'I'm old-school—I still prefer cash, not just business-wise but for everything,' Ms Zaromias shared. 'When they turn around and say, “We're going to go cashless”—well, that's ridiculous. If something like (the Optus crash) happens, then what?'

Despite the backlash, some believe that going cashless is inevitable. Independent Payments Market Expert Lance Blockley estimated that by 2025, traditional cash would make up less than 4 per cent of total retail purchases across the country.

Major banks like the Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, and NAB have already opened cashless branches where customers are directed to ATMs for 'everyday banking'.

While digital transactions offer convenience and efficiency, the reliance on technology exposed consumers and businesses to potential disruptions.

As Australia continues its march towards becoming a cashless society, it's crucial to ensure that adequate safeguards are in place to prevent similar incidents from causing widespread disruption in the future.

Key Takeaways

• The recent Optus network outage forced many Australians to revert back to cash payments, sparking frustrations about the country's rapid move towards becoming a cashless society.
• The blackout, which affected at least 10 million users for more than nine hours, leaving businesses unable to operate their EFTPOS machines, resulted in Australians expressing their concerns about the reduction of ATMs and bank branches.
• Several online users and business owners opposed a cashless economy, emphasising that cash remains essential for system outages.
• Despite the outage, experts predict that by 2025, traditional cash will make up less than 4 per cent of total retail purchases across the country, with some banks even opening cashless branches.

What are your thoughts on this issue, members? How were you affected by the Optus outage? Do you believe Australia is ready to go cashless, or do you think cash still has a place in our society? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

As in a lot of overseas countries there needs to be an Australian Banking and Cash Guarantee that includes these rights:

1) All Australians must be able to have reasonable local access to cash and full banking services.

2) All Australians must be able to choose cash when paying for food and essentials at physical retailers.

 

[waynegjones]

When are people going to wake up, cash less cost you money, went to Fish and Chips shop the other day and it cost 50 cents to use my our std debit card on a #30 dollar purchase. The vendor does not even have a sign to say they are going to charge me. Debit cards were once free. Cash or me now, imagine if I make multiple purchases in one day and how that will add up over xmas. Another rip off.

 

[Uterus]

There is no safe place to put your money. Banks now require us to do their jobs on line on an unpaid basis, and yet charge a fee for forcing us to place our funds at risk digitally.
People no longer know how to limit their spending, because simply tapping a card endlessly removes any visibility of how much you have left to spend.
It is totally insane to force us into a system that is known to place our funds at risk.
Lynne

 

[Stevo114]

There is no safe place to put your money. Banks now require us to do their jobs on line on an unpaid basis, and yet charge a fee for forcing us to place our funds at risk digitally.
People no longer know how to limit their spending, because simply tapping a card endlessly removes any visibility of how much you have left to spend.
It is totally insane to force us into a system that is known to place our funds at risk.
Lynne

And few people, including the current government, seem to understand that interest rates rise to reduce spending. They keep spending....mostly on credit.

 

[IAN3005]

Australia's rapid transition towards a cashless society has always been met with a wave of criticism. But following the nationwide Optus outage, which left millions of Aussies unable to make digital transactions, this criticism has turned into outrage.

The incident also ignited a heated debate about the country's readiness to abandon cash entirely, with many arguing that the outage underscores the importance of maintaining a dual system of cash and digital payments.

The Optus network failure, which occurred on November 8, left approximately 10 million users unable to make or receive calls, send texts, or access the internet for over nine hours.

The outage had a domino effect, crippling thousands of businesses across the country that rely on EFTPOS machines for transactions. As a result, customers were forced to revert to cash payments.

View attachment 34480

The Optus outage affected several businesses that rely on EFTPOS machines for transactions. Credit: @giggles_in_the_dark/TikTok

The incident has led to criticism of the ongoing reduction of ATMs and bank branches, making it increasingly difficult for consumers to withdraw cash.

A social media user captured the sentiment of many Australians, expressing her frustration outside an IGA store that had put up a 'Cash Only...EFTPOS is down' sign due to the outage.

'The fact this still happens, and yet the Australian government is removing banks and ATMs to make it even harder to get cash out is such a f****d thing to do,' the user said in a video.

'Make society cashless, no, f****ng we need cash,' she added.

The video resonated with thousands of viewers, many of whom agreed that despite the increasing prevalence of electronic transactions, cash remains a necessary fallback option.

'[November 8] proved to everybody that the world is f****d without cash when computer systems have glitches [...] Hackers can fix the problem,' one user commented.

The Optus outage has also drawn attention to the steady decline of ATMs and bank branches in regional parts of Australia.

Data from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority revealed that 424 bank branches closed in the year to June, and since 2017, 1,600 bank branches have closed across Australia.

Business owners also have the same sentiments towards cashless transactions. Peggy Zaromias, the owner of Nick's Handbags in Bankstown, Sydney, stated that abandoning cash would significantly impact many small and family-run businesses.

'I'm old-school—I still prefer cash, not just business-wise but for everything,' Ms Zaromias shared. 'When they turn around and say, “We're going to go cashless”—well, that's ridiculous. If something like (the Optus crash) happens, then what?'

Despite the backlash, some believe that going cashless is inevitable. Independent Payments Market Expert Lance Blockley estimated that by 2025, traditional cash would make up less than 4 per cent of total retail purchases across the country.

Major banks like the Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, and NAB have already opened cashless branches where customers are directed to ATMs for 'everyday banking'.

While digital transactions offer convenience and efficiency, the reliance on technology exposed consumers and businesses to potential disruptions.

As Australia continues its march towards becoming a cashless society, it's crucial to ensure that adequate safeguards are in place to prevent similar incidents from causing widespread disruption in the future.

Key Takeaways

• The recent Optus network outage forced many Australians to revert back to cash payments, sparking frustrations about the country's rapid move towards becoming a cashless society.
• The blackout, which affected at least 10 million users for more than nine hours, leaving businesses unable to operate their EFTPOS machines, resulted in Australians expressing their concerns about the reduction of ATMs and bank branches.
• Several online users and business owners opposed a cashless economy, emphasising that cash remains essential for system outages.
• Despite the outage, experts predict that by 2025, traditional cash will make up less than 4 per cent of total retail purchases across the country, with some banks even opening cashless branches.

What are your thoughts on this issue, members? How were you affected by the Optus outage? Do you believe Australia is ready to go cashless, or do you think cash still has a place in our society? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Like it or not..... we are slowly being forced to accept it. They will soon be selecting serial numbers of cash and on a prescribed date they will be worthless.

 

[Quietkate]

Australia's rapid transition towards a cashless society has always been met with a wave of criticism. But following the nationwide Optus outage, which left millions of Aussies unable to make digital transactions, this criticism has turned into outrage.

The incident also ignited a heated debate about the country's readiness to abandon cash entirely, with many arguing that the outage underscores the importance of maintaining a dual system of cash and digital payments.

The Optus network failure, which occurred on November 8, left approximately 10 million users unable to make or receive calls, send texts, or access the internet for over nine hours.

The outage had a domino effect, crippling thousands of businesses across the country that rely on EFTPOS machines for transactions. As a result, customers were forced to revert to cash payments.

View attachment 34480

The Optus outage affected several businesses that rely on EFTPOS machines for transactions. Credit: @giggles_in_the_dark/TikTok

The incident has led to criticism of the ongoing reduction of ATMs and bank branches, making it increasingly difficult for consumers to withdraw cash.

A social media user captured the sentiment of many Australians, expressing her frustration outside an IGA store that had put up a 'Cash Only...EFTPOS is down' sign due to the outage.

'The fact this still happens, and yet the Australian government is removing banks and ATMs to make it even harder to get cash out is such a f****d thing to do,' the user said in a video.

'Make society cashless, no, f****ng we need cash,' she added.

The video resonated with thousands of viewers, many of whom agreed that despite the increasing prevalence of electronic transactions, cash remains a necessary fallback option.

'[November 8] proved to everybody that the world is f****d without cash when computer systems have glitches [...] Hackers can fix the problem,' one user commented.

The Optus outage has also drawn attention to the steady decline of ATMs and bank branches in regional parts of Australia.

Data from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority revealed that 424 bank branches closed in the year to June, and since 2017, 1,600 bank branches have closed across Australia.

Business owners also have the same sentiments towards cashless transactions. Peggy Zaromias, the owner of Nick's Handbags in Bankstown, Sydney, stated that abandoning cash would significantly impact many small and family-run businesses.

'I'm old-school—I still prefer cash, not just business-wise but for everything,' Ms Zaromias shared. 'When they turn around and say, “We're going to go cashless”—well, that's ridiculous. If something like (the Optus crash) happens, then what?'

Despite the backlash, some believe that going cashless is inevitable. Independent Payments Market Expert Lance Blockley estimated that by 2025, traditional cash would make up less than 4 per cent of total retail purchases across the country.

Major banks like the Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, and NAB have already opened cashless branches where customers are directed to ATMs for 'everyday banking'.

While digital transactions offer convenience and efficiency, the reliance on technology exposed consumers and businesses to potential disruptions.

As Australia continues its march towards becoming a cashless society, it's crucial to ensure that adequate safeguards are in place to prevent similar incidents from causing widespread disruption in the future.

Key Takeaways

• The recent Optus network outage forced many Australians to revert back to cash payments, sparking frustrations about the country's rapid move towards becoming a cashless society.
• The blackout, which affected at least 10 million users for more than nine hours, leaving businesses unable to operate their EFTPOS machines, resulted in Australians expressing their concerns about the reduction of ATMs and bank branches.
• Several online users and business owners opposed a cashless economy, emphasising that cash remains essential for system outages.
• Despite the outage, experts predict that by 2025, traditional cash will make up less than 4 per cent of total retail purchases across the country, with some banks even opening cashless branches.

What are your thoughts on this issue, members? How were you affected by the Optus outage? Do you believe Australia is ready to go cashless, or do you think cash still has a place in our society? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

I feel that the government or the big banks have no right to tell us how to live our lives. My husband and myself opted to make only one transaction on our bank account on pension day to save bank fees, we pay almost everything with cash. The one thing that worries me really about this is the lack of human contact, what happens to our bank tellers, what happens to our banks. When the system breaks down again and it will is the government and big business going to pay our late fees if we are behind because of it.

 

[David Otto]

When are people going to wake up, cash less cost you money, went to Fish and Chips shop the other day and it cost 50 cents to use my our std debit card on a #30 dollar purchase. The vendor does not even have a sign to say they are going to charge me. Debit cards were once free. Cash or me now, imagine if I make multiple purchases in one day and how that will add up over xmas. Another rip off.

Under ACCC law it states "Where there are other ways for a consumer to pay without incurring a surcharge or other fees, businesses should display card surcharges in a prominent way so that consumers are aware of the additional costs before payment"
The ACCC do enforce this law and issue heavy penalties to those who fail to comply

 

[derek2710]

Australia's rapid transition towards a cashless society has always been met with a wave of criticism. But following the nationwide Optus outage, which left millions of Aussies unable to make digital transactions, this criticism has turned into outrage.

The incident also ignited a heated debate about the country's readiness to abandon cash entirely, with many arguing that the outage underscores the importance of maintaining a dual system of cash and digital payments.

The Optus network failure, which occurred on November 8, left approximately 10 million users unable to make or receive calls, send texts, or access the internet for over nine hours.

The outage had a domino effect, crippling thousands of businesses across the country that rely on EFTPOS machines for transactions. As a result, customers were forced to revert to cash payments.

View attachment 34480

The Optus outage affected several businesses that rely on EFTPOS machines for transactions. Credit: @giggles_in_the_dark/TikTok

The incident has led to criticism of the ongoing reduction of ATMs and bank branches, making it increasingly difficult for consumers to withdraw cash.

A social media user captured the sentiment of many Australians, expressing her frustration outside an IGA store that had put up a 'Cash Only...EFTPOS is down' sign due to the outage.

'The fact this still happens, and yet the Australian government is removing banks and ATMs to make it even harder to get cash out is such a f****d thing to do,' the user said in a video.

'Make society cashless, no, f****ng we need cash,' she added.

The video resonated with thousands of viewers, many of whom agreed that despite the increasing prevalence of electronic transactions, cash remains a necessary fallback option.

'[November 8] proved to everybody that the world is f****d without cash when computer systems have glitches [...] Hackers can fix the problem,' one user commented.

The Optus outage has also drawn attention to the steady decline of ATMs and bank branches in regional parts of Australia.

Data from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority revealed that 424 bank branches closed in the year to June, and since 2017, 1,600 bank branches have closed across Australia.

Business owners also have the same sentiments towards cashless transactions. Peggy Zaromias, the owner of Nick's Handbags in Bankstown, Sydney, stated that abandoning cash would significantly impact many small and family-run businesses.

'I'm old-school—I still prefer cash, not just business-wise but for everything,' Ms Zaromias shared. 'When they turn around and say, “We're going to go cashless”—well, that's ridiculous. If something like (the Optus crash) happens, then what?'

Despite the backlash, some believe that going cashless is inevitable. Independent Payments Market Expert Lance Blockley estimated that by 2025, traditional cash would make up less than 4 per cent of total retail purchases across the country.

Major banks like the Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, and NAB have already opened cashless branches where customers are directed to ATMs for 'everyday banking'.

While digital transactions offer convenience and efficiency, the reliance on technology exposed consumers and businesses to potential disruptions.

As Australia continues its march towards becoming a cashless society, it's crucial to ensure that adequate safeguards are in place to prevent similar incidents from causing widespread disruption in the future.

Key Takeaways

• The recent Optus network outage forced many Australians to revert back to cash payments, sparking frustrations about the country's rapid move towards becoming a cashless society.
• The blackout, which affected at least 10 million users for more than nine hours, leaving businesses unable to operate their EFTPOS machines, resulted in Australians expressing their concerns about the reduction of ATMs and bank branches.
• Several online users and business owners opposed a cashless economy, emphasising that cash remains essential for system outages.
• Despite the outage, experts predict that by 2025, traditional cash will make up less than 4 per cent of total retail purchases across the country, with some banks even opening cashless branches.

What are your thoughts on this issue, members? How were you affected by the Optus outage? Do you believe Australia is ready to go cashless, or do you think cash still has a place in our society? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

As a Optus customer for many years I was personally affected but was actually delighted that this has happened as I am one who is against a cashless society and it was so wonderful seeing all those businesses suffering with there card only policies suffering and begging me to come back to them with my cash.

 

[magpie1]

It is disgusting the way that Banks are treating their customers, without whom they would not make the huge profits at years end......it has been the loyalty and consistent depositing of our money to the Banks over a lot of years that has enabled them to grow, initially providing a good service to their customers inside the banks and outside with ATM'S etc. However it now appears they want more 'control' over their customers A/C's and giving less personal 'service' to their customers. It is this approach by the banks that needs to be revised and for them to remember that without our money they will fail. The rejection by the public of a cashless system is totally worthwhile in this ever changing, all consuming electronic world that we live in. GO CASHLESS....GO BROKE.

 

[freedy50]

Cash will always be part of our lives ,going cashless is another way Government is going to control everything we. Do another part of ONE WORLD ORDER , Governments are just following orders as they always do , remember COVID they all spoke from the same rule book.

You haven't even got the name of your conspiracy theory correct.It's the New World Order. You can read about how fake it is on here

A dialogue-driven approach to address the partisan dynamics of online misinformation

Misinformation is often used to refer to objectively false information. More specific definitions hold that “misinformation”

www.shrmonitor.org

 

[Tootie]

I DO NOT support this cashless system being forced on us. The Optus outage last week should be a stark example. I always insist on cash payments when I shop, unless it is a large amount for which I have to use a card but very hesitantly and once every 'blue moon'!

 

[kevinwoodtufftyke52@gmail]

Australia's rapid transition towards a cashless society has always been met with a wave of criticism. But following the nationwide Optus outage, which left millions of Aussies unable to make digital transactions, this criticism has turned into outrage.

The incident also ignited a heated debate about the country's readiness to abandon cash entirely, with many arguing that the outage underscores the importance of maintaining a dual system of cash and digital payments.

The Optus network failure, which occurred on November 8, left approximately 10 million users unable to make or receive calls, send texts, or access the internet for over nine hours.

The outage had a domino effect, crippling thousands of businesses across the country that rely on EFTPOS machines for transactions. As a result, customers were forced to revert to cash payments.

View attachment 34480

The Optus outage affected several businesses that rely on EFTPOS machines for transactions. Credit: @giggles_in_the_dark/TikTok

The incident has led to criticism of the ongoing reduction of ATMs and bank branches, making it increasingly difficult for consumers to withdraw cash.

A social media user captured the sentiment of many Australians, expressing her frustration outside an IGA store that had put up a 'Cash Only...EFTPOS is down' sign due to the outage.

'The fact this still happens, and yet the Australian government is removing banks and ATMs to make it even harder to get cash out is such a f****d thing to do,' the user said in a video.

'Make society cashless, no, f****ng we need cash,' she added.

The video resonated with thousands of viewers, many of whom agreed that despite the increasing prevalence of electronic transactions, cash remains a necessary fallback option.

'[November 8] proved to everybody that the world is f****d without cash when computer systems have glitches [...] Hackers can fix the problem,' one user commented.

The Optus outage has also drawn attention to the steady decline of ATMs and bank branches in regional parts of Australia.

Data from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority revealed that 424 bank branches closed in the year to June, and since 2017, 1,600 bank branches have closed across Australia.

Business owners also have the same sentiments towards cashless transactions. Peggy Zaromias, the owner of Nick's Handbags in Bankstown, Sydney, stated that abandoning cash would significantly impact many small and family-run businesses.

'I'm old-school—I still prefer cash, not just business-wise but for everything,' Ms Zaromias shared. 'When they turn around and say, “We're going to go cashless”—well, that's ridiculous. If something like (the Optus crash) happens, then what?'

Despite the backlash, some believe that going cashless is inevitable. Independent Payments Market Expert Lance Blockley estimated that by 2025, traditional cash would make up less than 4 per cent of total retail purchases across the country.

Major banks like the Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, and NAB have already opened cashless branches where customers are directed to ATMs for 'everyday banking'.

While digital transactions offer convenience and efficiency, the reliance on technology exposed consumers and businesses to potential disruptions.

As Australia continues its march towards becoming a cashless society, it's crucial to ensure that adequate safeguards are in place to prevent similar incidents from causing widespread disruption in the future.

Key Takeaways

• The recent Optus network outage forced many Australians to revert back to cash payments, sparking frustrations about the country's rapid move towards becoming a cashless society.
• The blackout, which affected at least 10 million users for more than nine hours, leaving businesses unable to operate their EFTPOS machines, resulted in Australians expressing their concerns about the reduction of ATMs and bank branches.
• Several online users and business owners opposed a cashless economy, emphasising that cash remains essential for system outages.
• Despite the outage, experts predict that by 2025, traditional cash will make up less than 4 per cent of total retail purchases across the country, with some banks even opening cashless branches.

What are your thoughts on this issue, members? How were you affected by the Optus outage? Do you believe Australia is ready to go cashless, or do you think cash still has a place in our society? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

NO financial organisation , business or government can guarantee their electronic systems are 100% safe from hackers or breakdowns! So cash is the safest way.

 

[kevinwoodtufftyke52@gmail]

OMG! Yet another thing in this crazy mixed up world to worry about. As if having to tread carefully in this world for fear of being scammed online, now the government (in their stupidity) decide that it is a great idea to go cashless and force everyone to partake in an extremely risky method of paying for things. All I can say is: God help the first person who rejects my paying cash! And: God help the leaders of this country if ever I become a victim of a scam as a result of this decision!
They would need to implement an absolute scam-proof system before I will consent to a cashless society. Something along the lines of fingerprint or eye recognition. A system that uses some kind of hack-proof technology.
Even my iPhone has a fingerprint accessibility feature. Surely something similar can be implemented on a widespread scale. Perhaps something that uses face, eye and fingerprint recognition. Who knows, but their has to be a hack-proof system.

You forget the elderly and those that don't have or use electronic devices.