2026: The Year Santa Goes Digital
By COURAGE IS THE CURE
Is this the last Christmas where cash still jingles all the way? From 1 January 2026, Australia’s shiny new cash acceptance mandate looks set to begin. It’s currently expected to apply only to supermarkets and petrol stations, meaning 98.2% of businesses could legally say, “No thanks, we’re too digital for your notes.”
So, if Nanna puts a crisp $20 into the grandkids’ Christmas card, hoping they’ll buy something fun, prepare for disappointment. That toy shop? Exempt. The café? Exempt. The bookstore? You guessed it—exempt. Unless your dream gift is unleaded petrol or a bag of carrots, good luck spending it.
The government says it’s protecting the 1.5 million Australians who rely on cash. But with loopholes this wide, it’s more like a festive illusion. Will 2026 be the year we unwrap a cashless Christmas?
Will Grandpa have to start gifting QR codes? Or maybe just heartfelt IOUs. Because in the future, it seems the only thing cash will buy… is nostalgia.
Courage Is The Cure is an independent Western Australian content creator.
This article was first published in The Light Australia newspaper Edition 21, December 2025.