Australian businesses selling essential goods and services to be forced to accept cash payments

Treasury confirms cheques will stay in circulation until 2029 but then cease to be accepted as legal tender

• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

Businesses selling essential goods and services such as groceries, medicines and fuel will be forced to accept cash from their customers unless granted a special exemption, under a government mandate to take effect from 1 January 2026.

In a move designed to taper the phase-out of cash and ensure those who rely on it can still use it for the near future, the federal government will require certain businesses to take cash payments. But others, including many small businesses, will be exempt from the measure.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email