Category: Payments

Cash: Wake Up, Its The Antidote To Digital Dystopia!

Well, last week we got a glimpse of the vulnerability of global IT systems, including payment systems, the latest and perhaps most significant of a chapter of accidents, ranging from banks systems going down, through to disruption from floods and fire, when only physical payments in cash were accepted. US cyber-security firm CrowdStrike said it was responsible for the mayhem, which started on Friday after sending a ‘defective’ update to machines running Microsoft apps. Microsoft has suggested customers try rebooting their computers 15 times to resolve the issue.

The IT outage prompted federal politician Bob Katter to demand cash remains in circulation amid the “danger” of relying on digital technology. “This a wake-up call that the risk associated with a cashless society is too high for us to pay,” Mr Katter said.

According to a recent online survey, titled Cashless Future 2024’ while fewer payments may be made in cash these days, Australians are still expressing serious concerns about heading towards a cashless society. Seven in 10 say they’ve concerned, while two in five Aussies are extremely concerned about notes and coins becoming relics.

Significantly, even people who don’t use cash can be concerned about moving towards a cashless society for reasons including privacy concerns, security risks and dependency on technology. This includes concerns about their transaction data being tracked and analysed by corporations or government agencies, and digital payment systems can sometimes be vulnerable to technology outage, hacking or fraud. A recent report said: “Concerns about technological glitches, network outages, or power failures could lead to worries about being unable to make payments in the absence of cash.”

http://www.martinnorth.com/

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Don’t Believe The Bankers: More People Are Using Cash!

Contrary to the bankers claiming digital payments are replacing cash, yet more evidence is showing that use of cash is on the RISE! We look at data from New Zealand based on a recent survey as the Reserve Bank there announces pilots to make access to cash easier.

The trend of rising cash use was in fact confirmed recently by the RBA too, though their surveys are just not up to the New Zealand standard, and of course using cash more is also rising in the UK.

Not only is the ongoing use of cash a human right, a protection of freedom, and cheaper than other payment means, but it is also proving to assist households with their budgetting. Do not believe the bankers’ BS…

RBNZ Short: Why Access To Cash Is Essential For Social Cohesion Short: https://youtube.com/shorts/d32BqMmfwUc

http://www.martinnorth.com/

Go to the Walk The World Universe at https://walktheworld.com.au/

I’m Comyn For Your Cash! With Robbie Barwick…

An important discussion about the future of cash across Australia with Robbie Barwick from The Australian Citizens Party.

The CEO of CBA Matt Comyn floated the idea of limiting cash transactions to $500, so we pull this apart in the context of the Use Cash campaign which ran successfully on the 2nd April.

See my earlier show for detail of that campaign, and the Senate interrogation of the RBA which we also discuss. The Fight For Cash Just Got Terminally Serious! https://youtu.be/LiNSH7I_8xs

https://citizensparty.org.au/

http://www.martinnorth.com/

Go to the Walk The World Universe at https://walktheworld.com.au/

The Fight For Cash Just Got Terminally Serious!

Despite cash being legal tender in Australia, surprisingly it is legal for businesses to refuse to accept it provided that they inform consumers of their stance before any “contract” for the supply of goods or services is entered into.

The war on cash has taken an interesting turn, with the RBA being questioned by the Senate Inquiry into Regional Bank Branch closures, and claiming the use of cash had fallen, but frankly on thin and filtered evidence; while Armaguard, Australia’s only cash-in-transit business is facing the prospect of collapsing due to the claimed declining use of cash. The RBA, which regulates the payments industry and is responsible for printing money is also involved in the crisis talks.

And a social media campaign, led by the Cash is King Facebook group is calling on Aussies to withdraw and use cash next Tuesday, April 2, in protest against the shift to digital payments. The protest is aimed at showing Australia’s banks and retailers that there is still a demand for the use of cash in society. That is, if you can still find an ATM.

So, action on Tuesday to grab some cash could be an important step on the road to saving cash for All Australians who want to use it, despite pressure from the Government who is responding to huge pressure from the commercial banks. This in turn puts massive pressure on the current Senate review, who is scheduled to hold one more community hearing on Bribie Island on the 16th April. Will the committee who has laid bare the issues of branch closures and removal of cash come good or hook their final report like the earlier Royal Commission Inquiry into Financial Services, which exposed major issues through their hearings, only to turn to water in their final report and recommendations, which allowed the banks to behave business as usual. This time all eyes will be on the Senate.

http://www.martinnorth.com/

Go to the Walk The World Universe at https://walktheworld.com.au/

Card Fraud Rises Across Australia To $2.2bn

In the most recent incident of card fraud: the gross amount withdrawn or used for all incidents was $2.2 billion while the net loss after any reimbursements paid for all incidents was $476 million. The median amount withdrawn or used per incident was $200, A further 514,300 (2.5 per cent) experienced some kind of scam, and just under 200,000 (1.0 per cent) were victims of identity theft.

The proliferation of the digital world has opened the door for more scans, so we need to be careful with the information we share, the links we click, and monitor statements to look for fraudulent transactions. This is another area where financial education needs to be enhanced, in school and beyond, as many people are too easily caught. Its important to be digitally smart. Maybe cash is safer and easier to manage. Worth thinking about in the context of the current drive to removed cash all together.

http://www.martinnorth.com/

Go to the Walk The World Universe at https://walktheworld.com.au/

The Front Line In The War On Cash…

I discuss the latest developments on the war on cash with Robbie Barwick from the Citizens Party. In the final sitting week, it’s time to give the politicians a final serve in the interests of the people!

Call Minister Stephen Jones and Labor Senators today to protest capitulation to the banks!

Message:

I’m calling to object to Labor’s capitulation to the banks!
Labor must stand up to the banks by doing two things this week:

  1. Pass the banking reform laws as planned, including civil penalties for executives to hold bankers accountable;
  2. Support the push for a Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee inquiry into the regional banking crisis, including the government post office bank alternative.

Minister for Financial Services Stephen Jones: (02) 6277 7230 Stephen.Jones.MP@aph.gov.au

Click here to find the contact details of the Labor Senators from your state. https://cec.enudgemail.com.au/securl.php?nudge=y1052zpr1128&link=12460&email=robbie@citizensparty.org.au

Choice campaign webpage: https://action.choice.com.au/page/118203/action/1

Coalition banking inquiry blamed for mass branch closures
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/coalition-banking-inquiry-blamed-for-mass-branch-closures,17015

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The Buy Now Pay Later Credit Card Duck Just Got Shot!

An estimated 7 million “buy now pay later” users will soon see new laws introduced by the federal government that aims to better protect them against financial abuse.

A new Treasury paper released by Financial Service Minister Stephen Jones today suggests buy now pay later players could soon be subject to the same laws as credit card providers, as “unaffordable or inappropriate lending practices are contributing to financial stress and hardship, and other types of consumer harm”.

The paper said there were 7 million active buy now pay later accounts in the 2021-22 financial year resulting in $16 billion in transactions, an increase of almost 37 per cent on the previous financial year.

The Treasury paper makes it clear self-regulation, without some controls, is no longer an option.

It raises a range of issues, noting there’s been reports of “poor complaints handling processes” and that “the lack of hardship assistance for consumers leads to delayed or unsatisfactory remediation”.

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Australians must fight in the new Orwellian Horror!

This week Australia’s living God made international headlines by declaring a research project into crypto currencies.

The Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre (DFCRC) on a research project to explore use cases for a central bank digital currency (CBDC) in Australia.

https://www.rba.gov.au/media-releases/2022/mr-22-23.html

The RBA announce coincides with the announcement by the Senate Select Committee on Australia as a Technology and Financial Centre.

Australians need to ensure that the RBA and the Federal Parliament does not impose totalitarian control through the Central Bank Digital Currency. Australia is headed down a path with little democratic consent and there is a lot of uncertainty were public policy is going in Australia.

There is a possibility that CBDCs will improve economic life in Australia, but there is also a possibility that it may not. The RBA cannot be allowed to alter economic life in Australia without a democratic mandate.

The Prime Minister and Treasurer need to explain why CBDCs are being developed in Australia and what is the public policy case.

The Australian people must ensure that physical cash is never eliminated and that freedom and privacy remains the corner stone of Australia’s payment system and economic life.

Go to the Walk The World Universe at https://walktheworld.com.au/