In an era where paperless documents and contactless payments are becoming the norm, cash seems to be phasing out.

However, this tech-savvy plunge is not without its complications, and the recent Optus outage highlights just that.

The extensive Optus network outage that crippled businesses across Australia has now ignited a debate about the country's steady transition towards a cashless society.

Businesses were unable to use their EFTPOS machines due to the outage, forcing them to halt their services.

Uber drivers, cafes, snake catchers, and mechanics were also forced to close their shops or unable to provide their services due to the outage, which affected at least 10 million customers.

Some parts of Australia currently face an Optus outage. Credit: Unsplash

Some online users shared that the ongoing outage made them realise the truth that ‘cash is king’.

Users posted on social media that only people with ‘notes and coins can buy stuff’, whereas others were ‘stranded’.

One post read, ‘Cash—don’t leave home without it.’

‘Can anyone imagine what will happen if we go cashless in this country? It will be a total disaster, we all must stop a cashless Australia from happening. If every person went to [their] bank just once a week and withdrew cash, we could avoid this,’ wrote another user.

A third said that the outage proved ‘all that support the idea of a cashless society that phasing out physical money is a "bad idea”’.

Other users commented on the ongoing situation, with some taking the opportunity to tell everyone else, ‘I told you so’.

‘There’s a price to pay for convenience and laziness. Have cash, and these situations won’t be an issue,’ said one person.

'Goes to show just how reliant/vulnerable we are by using technology,' another wrote.

Some users found it ‘hilarious’ that business owners who previously refused to accept cash have been 'begging for us to find the nearest ATM’.

They also claimed that the outage was a good thing to remind everyone that there is still a need for cash.

'Hope the outage lasts all day,' said one user, while another hoped that the outage would last a week.

Some restaurants only accept cash payments due to the outage. Credit: Facebook

RMIT University Finance Expert Dr Angel Zhong said earlier this month that it was inevitable that Australia would become a cashless society.

‘The convenience of digital transactions has become irresistible for consumers and businesses and has led to the sector eclipsing traditional payment methods,’ she said.

She added that cash will be used so rarely that Australia will be cashless by 2025.

Currently, around 13 per cent of payments are being made in cash in Australia, from 30 per cent in 2019, with the decrease being attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The outage started around 4 a.m. on Wednesday in Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, and Adelaide. It was said that this is one of the biggest outages Optus has ever encountered.

Customers were urged not to call emergency services from an Optus landline, saying it won’t work.

An Optus spokesperson said, ‘We encourage any customers who need to contact emergency services to use a mobile line to call 000.’

‘Optus can confirm that triple zero (000) calls will not work from an Optus landline (fixed line telephone). Mobile calls to 000 will work if another carrier is available.’

‘Our teams are working to restore services as soon as possible. We will provide an update as soon as we are able,’ they added.

‘We are currently working to identify the cause and apologise for any inconvenience.’

As the nature of the outage is still under investigation, a Home Affairs Department spokesperson clarified that they received ‘no indication that this is a cyber incident’.

Key Takeaways

• The Optus network outage has sparked warnings about the risks of a fully cashless society.
• Many businesses that rely on the Optus network have been unable to operate due to not being able to use EFTPOS machines.
• Supporters of physical money have claimed the outage is evidence that moving towards a cashless society is a bad idea.
• Dr Angel Zhong from RMIT University has previously declared that Australia will likely be effectively cashless by 2025, with only around 13 per cent of payments currently made in cash.
  

Members, are you affected by the Optus outage? What are your thoughts about cash payments? Let us know in the comments below!

 

[Suzanne rose]

We should never ever go completely cashless.

My daughter works in a Cafe and they couldn't use the eftpos machine due to being with optus but they could use paypass which transferred straight to the cafes account and the customer just showed on their phone although optus customers couldnt do this , it was cash only for them.

My son had an online exam for uni and lucky our mobiles are with Vodafone and he could hotspot from his mobile to his laptop . My daughter did the same thing hotspotting from my mobile so she could use her phone to use what's app and check emails

 

[Nelope]

In an era where paperless documents and contactless payments are becoming the norm, cash seems to be phasing out.

However, this tech-savvy plunge is not without its complications, and the recent Optus outage highlights just that.

The extensive Optus network outage that crippled businesses across Australia has now ignited a debate about the country's steady transition towards a cashless society.

Businesses were unable to use their EFTPOS machines due to the outage, forcing them to halt their services.

Uber drivers, cafes, snake catchers, and mechanics were also forced to close their shops or unable to provide their services due to the outage, which affected at least 10 million customers.

View attachment 34238

Some parts of Australia currently face an Optus outage. Credit: Unsplash

Some online users shared that the ongoing outage made them realise the truth that ‘cash is king’.

Users posted on social media that only people with ‘notes and coins can buy stuff’, whereas others were ‘stranded’.

One post read, ‘Cash—don’t leave home without it.’

‘Can anyone imagine what will happen if we go cashless in this country? It will be a total disaster, we all must stop a cashless Australia from happening. If every person went to [their] bank just once a week and withdrew cash, we could avoid this,’ wrote another user.

A third said that the outage proved ‘all that support the idea of a cashless society that phasing out physical money is a "bad idea”’.

Other users commented on the ongoing situation, with some taking the opportunity to tell everyone else, ‘I told you so’.

‘There’s a price to pay for convenience and laziness. Have cash, and these situations won’t be an issue,’ said one person.

'Goes to show just how reliant/vulnerable we are by using technology,' another wrote.

Some users found it ‘hilarious’ that business owners who previously refused to accept cash have been 'begging for us to find the nearest ATM’.

They also claimed that the outage was a good thing to remind everyone that there is still a need for cash.

'Hope the outage lasts all day,' said one user, while another hoped that the outage would last a week.

View attachment 34237

Some restaurants only accept cash payments due to the outage. Credit: Facebook

RMIT University Finance Expert Dr Angel Zhong said earlier this month that it was inevitable that Australia would become a cashless society.

‘The convenience of digital transactions has become irresistible for consumers and businesses and has led to the sector eclipsing traditional payment methods,’ she said.

She added that cash will be used so rarely that Australia will be cashless by 2025.

Currently, around 13 per cent of payments are being made in cash in Australia, from 30 per cent in 2019, with the decrease being attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The outage started around 4 a.m. on Wednesday in Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, and Adelaide. It was said that this is one of the biggest outages Optus has ever encountered.

Customers were urged not to call emergency services from an Optus landline, saying it won’t work.

An Optus spokesperson said, ‘We encourage any customers who need to contact emergency services to use a mobile line to call 000.’

‘Optus can confirm that triple zero (000) calls will not work from an Optus landline (fixed line telephone). Mobile calls to 000 will work if another carrier is available.’

‘Our teams are working to restore services as soon as possible. We will provide an update as soon as we are able,’ they added.

‘We are currently working to identify the cause and apologise for any inconvenience.’

As the nature of the outage is still under investigation, a Home Affairs Department spokesperson clarified that they received ‘no indication that this is a cyber incident’.

Key Takeaways

• The Optus network outage has sparked warnings about the risks of a fully cashless society.
• Many businesses that rely on the Optus network have been unable to operate due to not being able to use EFTPOS machines.
• Supporters of physical money have claimed the outage is evidence that moving towards a cashless society is a bad idea.
• Dr Angel Zhong from RMIT University has previously declared that Australia will likely be effectively cashless by 2025, with only around 13 per cent of payments currently made in cash.

Members, are you affected by the Optus outage? What are your thoughts about cash payments? Let us know in the comments below!

This outage will not be the last.
Technology - When it is good, it is very very good but when it stops working, it is horrid.
Conversations are needed, across all levels and they should be around how we can be prepared for next time.
What would an ‘Outage Toolbox’ look like?
What happens to people with medical conditions that are reliant on technology?
Is a cashless society a good idea?
Having more than one carrier?

 

[Robbo3006]

In an era where paperless documents and contactless payments are becoming the norm, cash seems to be phasing out.

However, this tech-savvy plunge is not without its complications, and the recent Optus outage highlights just that.

The extensive Optus network outage that crippled businesses across Australia has now ignited a debate about the country's steady transition towards a cashless society.

Businesses were unable to use their EFTPOS machines due to the outage, forcing them to halt their services.

Uber drivers, cafes, snake catchers, and mechanics were also forced to close their shops or unable to provide their services due to the outage, which affected at least 10 million customers.

View attachment 34238

Some parts of Australia currently face an Optus outage. Credit: Unsplash

Some online users shared that the ongoing outage made them realise the truth that ‘cash is king’.

Users posted on social media that only people with ‘notes and coins can buy stuff’, whereas others were ‘stranded’.

One post read, ‘Cash—don’t leave home without it.’

‘Can anyone imagine what will happen if we go cashless in this country? It will be a total disaster, we all must stop a cashless Australia from happening. If every person went to [their] bank just once a week and withdrew cash, we could avoid this,’ wrote another user.

A third said that the outage proved ‘all that support the idea of a cashless society that phasing out physical money is a "bad idea”’.

Other users commented on the ongoing situation, with some taking the opportunity to tell everyone else, ‘I told you so’.

‘There’s a price to pay for convenience and laziness. Have cash, and these situations won’t be an issue,’ said one person.

'Goes to show just how reliant/vulnerable we are by using technology,' another wrote.

Some users found it ‘hilarious’ that business owners who previously refused to accept cash have been 'begging for us to find the nearest ATM’.

They also claimed that the outage was a good thing to remind everyone that there is still a need for cash.

'Hope the outage lasts all day,' said one user, while another hoped that the outage would last a week.

View attachment 34237

Some restaurants only accept cash payments due to the outage. Credit: Facebook

RMIT University Finance Expert Dr Angel Zhong said earlier this month that it was inevitable that Australia would become a cashless society.

‘The convenience of digital transactions has become irresistible for consumers and businesses and has led to the sector eclipsing traditional payment methods,’ she said.

She added that cash will be used so rarely that Australia will be cashless by 2025.

Currently, around 13 per cent of payments are being made in cash in Australia, from 30 per cent in 2019, with the decrease being attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The outage started around 4 a.m. on Wednesday in Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, and Adelaide. It was said that this is one of the biggest outages Optus has ever encountered.

Customers were urged not to call emergency services from an Optus landline, saying it won’t work.

An Optus spokesperson said, ‘We encourage any customers who need to contact emergency services to use a mobile line to call 000.’

‘Optus can confirm that triple zero (000) calls will not work from an Optus landline (fixed line telephone). Mobile calls to 000 will work if another carrier is available.’

‘Our teams are working to restore services as soon as possible. We will provide an update as soon as we are able,’ they added.

‘We are currently working to identify the cause and apologise for any inconvenience.’

As the nature of the outage is still under investigation, a Home Affairs Department spokesperson clarified that they received ‘no indication that this is a cyber incident’.

Key Takeaways

• The Optus network outage has sparked warnings about the risks of a fully cashless society.
• Many businesses that rely on the Optus network have been unable to operate due to not being able to use EFTPOS machines.
• Supporters of physical money have claimed the outage is evidence that moving towards a cashless society is a bad idea.
• Dr Angel Zhong from RMIT University has previously declared that Australia will likely be effectively cashless by 2025, with only around 13 per cent of payments currently made in cash.

Members, are you affected by the Optus outage? What are your thoughts about cash payments? Let us know in the comments below!

Was it caused by some domestic terrorist act, trying it out before a full blown attack on the whole system, our government would never tell Us. This is a path to our own demise, internet goes down and everything with it, it's not reliable enough to put all your eggs in one basket.

 

[Squizzy1]

In an era where paperless documents and contactless payments are becoming the norm, cash seems to be phasing out.

However, this tech-savvy plunge is not without its complications, and the recent Optus outage highlights just that.

The extensive Optus network outage that crippled businesses across Australia has now ignited a debate about the country's steady transition towards a cashless society.

Businesses were unable to use their EFTPOS machines due to the outage, forcing them to halt their services.

Uber drivers, cafes, snake catchers, and mechanics were also forced to close their shops or unable to provide their services due to the outage, which affected at least 10 million customers.

View attachment 34238

Some parts of Australia currently face an Optus outage. Credit: Unsplash

Some online users shared that the ongoing outage made them realise the truth that ‘cash is king’.

Users posted on social media that only people with ‘notes and coins can buy stuff’, whereas others were ‘stranded’.

One post read, ‘Cash—don’t leave home without it.’

‘Can anyone imagine what will happen if we go cashless in this country? It will be a total disaster, we all must stop a cashless Australia from happening. If every person went to [their] bank just once a week and withdrew cash, we could avoid this,’ wrote another user.

A third said that the outage proved ‘all that support the idea of a cashless society that phasing out physical money is a "bad idea”’.

Other users commented on the ongoing situation, with some taking the opportunity to tell everyone else, ‘I told you so’.

‘There’s a price to pay for convenience and laziness. Have cash, and these situations won’t be an issue,’ said one person.

'Goes to show just how reliant/vulnerable we are by using technology,' another wrote.

Some users found it ‘hilarious’ that business owners who previously refused to accept cash have been 'begging for us to find the nearest ATM’.

They also claimed that the outage was a good thing to remind everyone that there is still a need for cash.

'Hope the outage lasts all day,' said one user, while another hoped that the outage would last a week.

View attachment 34237

Some restaurants only accept cash payments due to the outage. Credit: Facebook

RMIT University Finance Expert Dr Angel Zhong said earlier this month that it was inevitable that Australia would become a cashless society.

‘The convenience of digital transactions has become irresistible for consumers and businesses and has led to the sector eclipsing traditional payment methods,’ she said.

She added that cash will be used so rarely that Australia will be cashless by 2025.

Currently, around 13 per cent of payments are being made in cash in Australia, from 30 per cent in 2019, with the decrease being attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The outage started around 4 a.m. on Wednesday in Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, and Adelaide. It was said that this is one of the biggest outages Optus has ever encountered.

Customers were urged not to call emergency services from an Optus landline, saying it won’t work.

An Optus spokesperson said, ‘We encourage any customers who need to contact emergency services to use a mobile line to call 000.’

‘Optus can confirm that triple zero (000) calls will not work from an Optus landline (fixed line telephone). Mobile calls to 000 will work if another carrier is available.’

‘Our teams are working to restore services as soon as possible. We will provide an update as soon as we are able,’ they added.

‘We are currently working to identify the cause and apologise for any inconvenience.’

As the nature of the outage is still under investigation, a Home Affairs Department spokesperson clarified that they received ‘no indication that this is a cyber incident’.

Key Takeaways

• The Optus network outage has sparked warnings about the risks of a fully cashless society.
• Many businesses that rely on the Optus network have been unable to operate due to not being able to use EFTPOS machines.
• Supporters of physical money have claimed the outage is evidence that moving towards a cashless society is a bad idea.
• Dr Angel Zhong from RMIT University has previously declared that Australia will likely be effectively cashless by 2025, with only around 13 per cent of payments currently made in cash.

Members, are you affected by the Optus outage? What are your thoughts about cash payments? Let us know in the comments below!

This cashless business is being forced on us by the Financial Industry's greed imo, and sanctioned by the Govt. so they can track every cent. Too bad they never put as much effort into those industries who transfer billions tax free OS electronically.

 

[Bianca]

Well I wonder if our impaired Leader knew anything about this - & he want to go cashless? Really !

 

[tonyb.]

How might a repeat outage affect our lives with incoming Digital Identity implimentation .......?

 

[BillW41]

In an era where paperless documents and contactless payments are becoming the norm, cash seems to be phasing out.

However, this tech-savvy plunge is not without its complications, and the recent Optus outage highlights just that.

The extensive Optus network outage that crippled businesses across Australia has now ignited a debate about the country's steady transition towards a cashless society.

Businesses were unable to use their EFTPOS machines due to the outage, forcing them to halt their services.

Uber drivers, cafes, snake catchers, and mechanics were also forced to close their shops or unable to provide their services due to the outage, which affected at least 10 million customers.

View attachment 34238

Some parts of Australia currently face an Optus outage. Credit: Unsplash

Some online users shared that the ongoing outage made them realise the truth that ‘cash is king’.

Users posted on social media that only people with ‘notes and coins can buy stuff’, whereas others were ‘stranded’.

One post read, ‘Cash—don’t leave home without it.’

‘Can anyone imagine what will happen if we go cashless in this country? It will be a total disaster, we all must stop a cashless Australia from happening. If every person went to [their] bank just once a week and withdrew cash, we could avoid this,’ wrote another user.

A third said that the outage proved ‘all that support the idea of a cashless society that phasing out physical money is a "bad idea”’.

Other users commented on the ongoing situation, with some taking the opportunity to tell everyone else, ‘I told you so’.

‘There’s a price to pay for convenience and laziness. Have cash, and these situations won’t be an issue,’ said one person.

'Goes to show just how reliant/vulnerable we are by using technology,' another wrote.

Some users found it ‘hilarious’ that business owners who previously refused to accept cash have been 'begging for us to find the nearest ATM’.

They also claimed that the outage was a good thing to remind everyone that there is still a need for cash.

'Hope the outage lasts all day,' said one user, while another hoped that the outage would last a week.

View attachment 34237

Some restaurants only accept cash payments due to the outage. Credit: Facebook

RMIT University Finance Expert Dr Angel Zhong said earlier this month that it was inevitable that Australia would become a cashless society.

‘The convenience of digital transactions has become irresistible for consumers and businesses and has led to the sector eclipsing traditional payment methods,’ she said.

She added that cash will be used so rarely that Australia will be cashless by 2025.

Currently, around 13 per cent of payments are being made in cash in Australia, from 30 per cent in 2019, with the decrease being attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The outage started around 4 a.m. on Wednesday in Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, and Adelaide. It was said that this is one of the biggest outages Optus has ever encountered.

Customers were urged not to call emergency services from an Optus landline, saying it won’t work.

An Optus spokesperson said, ‘We encourage any customers who need to contact emergency services to use a mobile line to call 000.’

‘Optus can confirm that triple zero (000) calls will not work from an Optus landline (fixed line telephone). Mobile calls to 000 will work if another carrier is available.’

‘Our teams are working to restore services as soon as possible. We will provide an update as soon as we are able,’ they added.

‘We are currently working to identify the cause and apologise for any inconvenience.’

As the nature of the outage is still under investigation, a Home Affairs Department spokesperson clarified that they received ‘no indication that this is a cyber incident’.

Key Takeaways

• The Optus network outage has sparked warnings about the risks of a fully cashless society.
• Many businesses that rely on the Optus network have been unable to operate due to not being able to use EFTPOS machines.
• Supporters of physical money have claimed the outage is evidence that moving towards a cashless society is a bad idea.
• Dr Angel Zhong from RMIT University has previously declared that Australia will likely be effectively cashless by 2025, with only around 13 per cent of payments currently made in cash.

Members, are you affected by the Optus outage? What are your thoughts about cash payments? Let us know in the comments below!

Hopefully the Optus debacle has proved to the powers that be that we can't afford to ditch cash. It is an essential commodity to ensure continuation of commerce when all else fails. We cannot rely on an infallible electricity supply.

 

[TheRockyPeanut]

I got offered 200GB compensation I already have 30 on my plan which I don't use so what could is this to me? The first message I got when all was restored was my bill that was due the day before and I have been with optus over 12yrs. Disgusting offer.

 

[Lizzie1149]

In an era where paperless documents and contactless payments are becoming the norm, cash seems to be phasing out.

However, this tech-savvy plunge is not without its complications, and the recent Optus outage highlights just that.

The extensive Optus network outage that crippled businesses across Australia has now ignited a debate about the country's steady transition towards a cashless society.

Businesses were unable to use their EFTPOS machines due to the outage, forcing them to halt their services.

Uber drivers, cafes, snake catchers, and mechanics were also forced to close their shops or unable to provide their services due to the outage, which affected at least 10 million customers.

View attachment 34238

Some parts of Australia currently face an Optus outage. Credit: Unsplash

Some online users shared that the ongoing outage made them realise the truth that ‘cash is king’.

Users posted on social media that only people with ‘notes and coins can buy stuff’, whereas others were ‘stranded’.

One post read, ‘Cash—don’t leave home without it.’

‘Can anyone imagine what will happen if we go cashless in this country? It will be a total disaster, we all must stop a cashless Australia from happening. If every person went to [their] bank just once a week and withdrew cash, we could avoid this,’ wrote another user.

A third said that the outage proved ‘all that support the idea of a cashless society that phasing out physical money is a "bad idea”’.

Other users commented on the ongoing situation, with some taking the opportunity to tell everyone else, ‘I told you so’.

‘There’s a price to pay for convenience and laziness. Have cash, and these situations won’t be an issue,’ said one person.

'Goes to show just how reliant/vulnerable we are by using technology,' another wrote.

Some users found it ‘hilarious’ that business owners who previously refused to accept cash have been 'begging for us to find the nearest ATM’.

They also claimed that the outage was a good thing to remind everyone that there is still a need for cash.

'Hope the outage lasts all day,' said one user, while another hoped that the outage would last a week.

View attachment 34237

Some restaurants only accept cash payments due to the outage. Credit: Facebook

RMIT University Finance Expert Dr Angel Zhong said earlier this month that it was inevitable that Australia would become a cashless society.

‘The convenience of digital transactions has become irresistible for consumers and businesses and has led to the sector eclipsing traditional payment methods,’ she said.

She added that cash will be used so rarely that Australia will be cashless by 2025.

Currently, around 13 per cent of payments are being made in cash in Australia, from 30 per cent in 2019, with the decrease being attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The outage started around 4 a.m. on Wednesday in Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, and Adelaide. It was said that this is one of the biggest outages Optus has ever encountered.

Customers were urged not to call emergency services from an Optus landline, saying it won’t work.

An Optus spokesperson said, ‘We encourage any customers who need to contact emergency services to use a mobile line to call 000.’

‘Optus can confirm that triple zero (000) calls will not work from an Optus landline (fixed line telephone). Mobile calls to 000 will work if another carrier is available.’

‘Our teams are working to restore services as soon as possible. We will provide an update as soon as we are able,’ they added.

‘We are currently working to identify the cause and apologise for any inconvenience.’

As the nature of the outage is still under investigation, a Home Affairs Department spokesperson clarified that they received ‘no indication that this is a cyber incident’.

Key Takeaways

• The Optus network outage has sparked warnings about the risks of a fully cashless society.
• Many businesses that rely on the Optus network have been unable to operate due to not being able to use EFTPOS machines.
• Supporters of physical money have claimed the outage is evidence that moving towards a cashless society is a bad idea.
• Dr Angel Zhong from RMIT University has previously declared that Australia will likely be effectively cashless by 2025, with only around 13 per cent of payments currently made in cash.

Members, are you affected by the Optus outage? What are your thoughts about cash payments? Let us know in the comments below!

When the first big outage came along I just sat there and felt like saying I told you so. Like anything mechanical, technology can go wrong and does go wrong. Ever since the computer was introduced there have been issues. I remember issues with the ones we had at work and they were as big as the average lounge room. Anything electrical is prone to power fluctuations and pieces of equipment break down over time. Even the best technicians can't keep the bugs out of everything. If we are going to use this sort of system we need to bear in mind that things can go wrong. And now we have no back up system to use when it goes wrong. The younger ones are so happy about having everything digital including the currency but if the whole lot goes down how do we buy food. Let alone pay bills and put petrol in the car. I don't complain about it as I realise it will happen from time to time, just like a car breaking down. People need to get a handle on it all and sit down and shut up and think about what they are allowing to happen.

 

[darrellh]

Earlier in the year we started drawing out small anounts of cash and building it up for such a time as this and just hiding it, so when my husband went to do the shopping on that day he took sufficient with him in case he needed it and I had a massage so I took enough to cover mine. Fortunately we were both okay but may not have been. Next time it may take longer to fix so need to be prepared folks

 

[David567]

Banks charge the shops to use EFTPOS, then the store charges the customer for using EFPTOS by jacking prices prices. The banks cut staff to make more money. Then we have network outages so customers have to line up at the banks with one teller olny to find they can't any money. Now OPTUS are offering free data which they will recover by increasing the prices, just like electricty companies gave subsities during Covid and now they put the price up and make double for the credit they gave.
Great scam to rip off the public.

 

[Countryjohn]

In an era where paperless documents and contactless payments are becoming the norm, cash seems to be phasing out.

However, this tech-savvy plunge is not without its complications, and the recent Optus outage highlights just that.

The extensive Optus network outage that crippled businesses across Australia has now ignited a debate about the country's steady transition towards a cashless society.

Businesses were unable to use their EFTPOS machines due to the outage, forcing them to halt their services.

Uber drivers, cafes, snake catchers, and mechanics were also forced to close their shops or unable to provide their services due to the outage, which affected at least 10 million customers.

View attachment 34238

Some parts of Australia currently face an Optus outage. Credit: Unsplash

Some online users shared that the ongoing outage made them realise the truth that ‘cash is king’.

Users posted on social media that only people with ‘notes and coins can buy stuff’, whereas others were ‘stranded’.

One post read, ‘Cash—don’t leave home without it.’

‘Can anyone imagine what will happen if we go cashless in this country? It will be a total disaster, we all must stop a cashless Australia from happening. If every person went to [their] bank just once a week and withdrew cash, we could avoid this,’ wrote another user.

A third said that the outage proved ‘all that support the idea of a cashless society that phasing out physical money is a "bad idea”’.

Other users commented on the ongoing situation, with some taking the opportunity to tell everyone else, ‘I told you so’.

‘There’s a price to pay for convenience and laziness. Have cash, and these situations won’t be an issue,’ said one person.

'Goes to show just how reliant/vulnerable we are by using technology,' another wrote.

Some users found it ‘hilarious’ that business owners who previously refused to accept cash have been 'begging for us to find the nearest ATM’.

They also claimed that the outage was a good thing to remind everyone that there is still a need for cash.

'Hope the outage lasts all day,' said one user, while another hoped that the outage would last a week.

View attachment 34237

Some restaurants only accept cash payments due to the outage. Credit: Facebook

RMIT University Finance Expert Dr Angel Zhong said earlier this month that it was inevitable that Australia would become a cashless society.

‘The convenience of digital transactions has become irresistible for consumers and businesses and has led to the sector eclipsing traditional payment methods,’ she said.

She added that cash will be used so rarely that Australia will be cashless by 2025.

Currently, around 13 per cent of payments are being made in cash in Australia, from 30 per cent in 2019, with the decrease being attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The outage started around 4 a.m. on Wednesday in Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, and Adelaide. It was said that this is one of the biggest outages Optus has ever encountered.

Customers were urged not to call emergency services from an Optus landline, saying it won’t work.

An Optus spokesperson said, ‘We encourage any customers who need to contact emergency services to use a mobile line to call 000.’

‘Optus can confirm that triple zero (000) calls will not work from an Optus landline (fixed line telephone). Mobile calls to 000 will work if another carrier is available.’

‘Our teams are working to restore services as soon as possible. We will provide an update as soon as we are able,’ they added.

‘We are currently working to identify the cause and apologise for any inconvenience.’

As the nature of the outage is still under investigation, a Home Affairs Department spokesperson clarified that they received ‘no indication that this is a cyber incident’.

Key Takeaways

• The Optus network outage has sparked warnings about the risks of a fully cashless society.
• Many businesses that rely on the Optus network have been unable to operate due to not being able to use EFTPOS machines.
• Supporters of physical money have claimed the outage is evidence that moving towards a cashless society is a bad idea.
• Dr Angel Zhong from RMIT University has previously declared that Australia will likely be effectively cashless by 2025, with only around 13 per cent of payments currently made in cash.

Members, are you affected by the Optus outage? What are your thoughts about cash payments? Let us know in the comments below!

People get upset and angry with an Optus fail. I want to see what happens when our electricity grid crashes it becomes the victim of a terrorist stack. (Look at the radicals protesting on our streets to see it wouldn’t be a surprise if it happened).
With no power comes no networks, no WiFi, no supermarkets/petrol, no doctors, no lights, no cooking, no cars. This fake climate change and having to go green is putting big stains on our power grid do it’s only a matter of time. At least I have cash and I will get food from some places!!!

 

[Reet]

In an era where paperless documents and contactless payments are becoming the norm, cash seems to be phasing out.

However, this tech-savvy plunge is not without its complications, and the recent Optus outage highlights just that.

The extensive Optus network outage that crippled businesses across Australia has now ignited a debate about the country's steady transition towards a cashless society.

Businesses were unable to use their EFTPOS machines due to the outage, forcing them to halt their services.

Uber drivers, cafes, snake catchers, and mechanics were also forced to close their shops or unable to provide their services due to the outage, which affected at least 10 million customers.

View attachment 34238

Some parts of Australia currently face an Optus outage. Credit: Unsplash

Some online users shared that the ongoing outage made them realise the truth that ‘cash is king’.

Users posted on social media that only people with ‘notes and coins can buy stuff’, whereas others were ‘stranded’.

One post read, ‘Cash—don’t leave home without it.’

‘Can anyone imagine what will happen if we go cashless in this country? It will be a total disaster, we all must stop a cashless Australia from happening. If every person went to [their] bank just once a week and withdrew cash, we could avoid this,’ wrote another user.

A third said that the outage proved ‘all that support the idea of a cashless society that phasing out physical money is a "bad idea”’.

Other users commented on the ongoing situation, with some taking the opportunity to tell everyone else, ‘I told you so’.

‘There’s a price to pay for convenience and laziness. Have cash, and these situations won’t be an issue,’ said one person.

'Goes to show just how reliant/vulnerable we are by using technology,' another wrote.

Some users found it ‘hilarious’ that business owners who previously refused to accept cash have been 'begging for us to find the nearest ATM’.

They also claimed that the outage was a good thing to remind everyone that there is still a need for cash.

'Hope the outage lasts all day,' said one user, while another hoped that the outage would last a week.

View attachment 34237

Some restaurants only accept cash payments due to the outage. Credit: Facebook

RMIT University Finance Expert Dr Angel Zhong said earlier this month that it was inevitable that Australia would become a cashless society.

‘The convenience of digital transactions has become irresistible for consumers and businesses and has led to the sector eclipsing traditional payment methods,’ she said.

She added that cash will be used so rarely that Australia will be cashless by 2025.

Currently, around 13 per cent of payments are being made in cash in Australia, from 30 per cent in 2019, with the decrease being attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The outage started around 4 a.m. on Wednesday in Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, and Adelaide. It was said that this is one of the biggest outages Optus has ever encountered.

Customers were urged not to call emergency services from an Optus landline, saying it won’t work.

An Optus spokesperson said, ‘We encourage any customers who need to contact emergency services to use a mobile line to call 000.’

‘Optus can confirm that triple zero (000) calls will not work from an Optus landline (fixed line telephone). Mobile calls to 000 will work if another carrier is available.’

‘Our teams are working to restore services as soon as possible. We will provide an update as soon as we are able,’ they added.

‘We are currently working to identify the cause and apologise for any inconvenience.’

As the nature of the outage is still under investigation, a Home Affairs Department spokesperson clarified that they received ‘no indication that this is a cyber incident’.

Key Takeaways

• The Optus network outage has sparked warnings about the risks of a fully cashless society.
• Many businesses that rely on the Optus network have been unable to operate due to not being able to use EFTPOS machines.
• Supporters of physical money have claimed the outage is evidence that moving towards a cashless society is a bad idea.
• Dr Angel Zhong from RMIT University has previously declared that Australia will likely be effectively cashless by 2025, with only around 13 per cent of payments currently made in cash.

Members, are you affected by the Optus outage? What are your thoughts about cash payments? Let us know in the comments below!

I have always taken the precaution of having my home computer on a different supplier than my mobile phone. I also do not use my phone for any cash transactions as I believe they are easier for thieves to access.

 

[Reet]

People get upset and angry with an Optus fail. I want to see what happens when our electricity grid crashes it becomes the victim of a terrorist stack. (Look at the radicals protesting on our streets to see it wouldn’t be a surprise if it happened).
With no power comes no networks, no WiFi, no supermarkets/petrol, no doctors, no lights, no cooking, no cars. This fake climate change and having to go green is putting big stains on our power grid do it’s only a matter of time. At least I have cash and I will get food from some places!!!

If the electricity grid crashes where are you going to get cash as a lot of bank outlets have also closed down?

 

[Bill MacL]

IT SHOULD BE MANDATORY FOR TELCOS TO HAVE A BACKUP PLAN FOR JUST THIS SORT OF EVENT.

 

[GillyH]

I got offered 200GB compensation I already have 30 on my plan which I don't use so what could is this to me? The first message I got when all was restored was my bill that was due the day before and I have been with optus over 12yrs. Disgusting offer.

Maybe its time to change providers. I am all for Cash!

 

[Lizzie17]

In an era where paperless documents and contactless payments are becoming the norm, cash seems to be phasing out.

However, this tech-savvy plunge is not without its complications, and the recent Optus outage highlights just that.

The extensive Optus network outage that crippled businesses across Australia has now ignited a debate about the country's steady transition towards a cashless society.

Businesses were unable to use their EFTPOS machines due to the outage, forcing them to halt their services.

Uber drivers, cafes, snake catchers, and mechanics were also forced to close their shops or unable to provide their services due to the outage, which affected at least 10 million customers.

View attachment 34238

Some parts of Australia currently face an Optus outage. Credit: Unsplash

Some online users shared that the ongoing outage made them realise the truth that ‘cash is king’.

Users posted on social media that only people with ‘notes and coins can buy stuff’, whereas others were ‘stranded’.

One post read, ‘Cash—don’t leave home without it.’

‘Can anyone imagine what will happen if we go cashless in this country? It will be a total disaster, we all must stop a cashless Australia from happening. If every person went to [their] bank just once a week and withdrew cash, we could avoid this,’ wrote another user.

A third said that the outage proved ‘all that support the idea of a cashless society that phasing out physical money is a "bad idea”’.

Other users commented on the ongoing situation, with some taking the opportunity to tell everyone else, ‘I told you so’.

‘There’s a price to pay for convenience and laziness. Have cash, and these situations won’t be an issue,’ said one person.

'Goes to show just how reliant/vulnerable we are by using technology,' another wrote.

Some users found it ‘hilarious’ that business owners who previously refused to accept cash have been 'begging for us to find the nearest ATM’.

They also claimed that the outage was a good thing to remind everyone that there is still a need for cash.

'Hope the outage lasts all day,' said one user, while another hoped that the outage would last a week.

View attachment 34237

Some restaurants only accept cash payments due to the outage. Credit: Facebook

RMIT University Finance Expert Dr Angel Zhong said earlier this month that it was inevitable that Australia would become a cashless society.

‘The convenience of digital transactions has become irresistible for consumers and businesses and has led to the sector eclipsing traditional payment methods,’ she said.

She added that cash will be used so rarely that Australia will be cashless by 2025.

Currently, around 13 per cent of payments are being made in cash in Australia, from 30 per cent in 2019, with the decrease being attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The outage started around 4 a.m. on Wednesday in Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, and Adelaide. It was said that this is one of the biggest outages Optus has ever encountered.

Customers were urged not to call emergency services from an Optus landline, saying it won’t work.

An Optus spokesperson said, ‘We encourage any customers who need to contact emergency services to use a mobile line to call 000.’

‘Optus can confirm that triple zero (000) calls will not work from an Optus landline (fixed line telephone). Mobile calls to 000 will work if another carrier is available.’

‘Our teams are working to restore services as soon as possible. We will provide an update as soon as we are able,’ they added.

‘We are currently working to identify the cause and apologise for any inconvenience.’

As the nature of the outage is still under investigation, a Home Affairs Department spokesperson clarified that they received ‘no indication that this is a cyber incident’.

Key Takeaways

• The Optus network outage has sparked warnings about the risks of a fully cashless society.
• Many businesses that rely on the Optus network have been unable to operate due to not being able to use EFTPOS machines.
• Supporters of physical money have claimed the outage is evidence that moving towards a cashless society is a bad idea.
• Dr Angel Zhong from RMIT University has previously declared that Australia will likely be effectively cashless by 2025, with only around 13 per cent of payments currently made in cash.

Members, are you affected by the Optus outage? What are your thoughts about cash payments? Let us know in the comments below!

I have never believed in a cashless society, this has actually proven that once internet, mobile, and home phones go down there is no backup. These companies who only accept cards should have had a hard lesson, isn't it enough that we all had problems when we had covid now this, excuse me but what next?????

 

[magpie1]

And then comes the day when we lose all of our electricity through a cyber attack.....then if you want anything and there is a cashless society in place as well, then we will have to go back to the old days of 'BARTERING'......try and explain that to the younger generation......or......the Government starts releasing all of the old bank notes that they have hidden away for a time such as this.

 

[gumnuts]

When the first big outage came along I just sat there and felt like saying I told you so. Like anything mechanical, technology can go wrong and does go wrong. Ever since the computer was introduced there have been issues. I remember issues with the ones we had at work and they were as big as the average lounge room. Anything electrical is prone to power fluctuations and pieces of equipment break down over time. Even the best technicians can't keep the bugs out of everything. If we are going to use this sort of system we need to bear in mind that things can go wrong. And now we have no back up system to use when it goes wrong. The younger ones are so happy about having everything digital including the currency but if the whole lot goes down how do we buy food. Let alone pay bills and put petrol in the car. I don't complain about it as I realise it will happen from time to time, just like a car breaking down. People need to get a handle on it all and sit down and shut up and think about what they are allowing to happen.

It was inevitable to happen. Nothing is ever perfect. We need cash no buts about it & shouldn’t be charged to use our own money either