Between 2017 and 2023, 2,100 bank branches were closed across Australia.

A Senate report found that although use of cash is declining across the economy, cash and face-to-face banking services remain important in regional and remote areas, during times of crisis and by the vulnerable, elderly and disabled.

The report advises a mandatory banking code of conduct, similar to one already in place in the UK (Australia lagging and indifferent as usual) making access to financial services an essential service.

Even RMIT agrees that banks should consult with communities and seek “regulatory approval” before closing branches.

The UK has a "three-mile rule": banks are required to provide free cash services within three miles (4.8km) for rural residents and one mile (1.6km) for urban dwellers. Banks failing to provide a minimum standard of service are fined.

Anyone who thinks that this is government interference in private enterprise needs reminding that banks and other private enterprises now regularly interfere in politics.

The services need not be provided by a bank building, or by ATMs, but shops could be utilised. Supermarkets in some rural areas in Australia already have ATMs, as do some petrol stations.

Australia really has to lift its game. The way for voters to have influence is to put all sitting members last on the ballot paper at the the next federal election. No matter who they are, what they say, they are responsible for the mess Australia is now in.

mhaze, you said; "worked in a place which is cash-dominant, as I have"

I'm trying to think of businesses that are cash-dominant, hummm, the illegal drug trade, Slack Freddy's Take-Away with the motto "No GST For Me" maybe its Dodgy Dave's Plumbing, "Cash In Hand Forget About Tax with Dodgy Dave". I'm on the dole and ripping off the government working for cash part time at Slack Freddy's Take-Away, and the rest of the week off-siding for Dodgy Dave the plumber.

"I'm trying to think of businesses that are cash-dominant,"

Don't try to think tooooo hard Paul. Your body's not used to it.

It was a confectionary store. The owner, a friend, was hospitalised and laid up for three months, so I took over for her.

Average sale was $3.17. Mostly kids spending their pocket money or mum's loose change ie cash. It did take card, but in those days the fees on small transactions meant it wasn't worth doing it for anything under $10.00.

There you go. You can stop thinking and go back to normal.

Good on ya mhaze, helping out a friend like that. When I was a kid I probably came into your Lolly Shop, remember me, I remember you the grumpy old bloke behind the counter, wearing a white apron. I was that kid who took half an hour to make up his mind how to spend sixpence. I'll have one jelly baby....how much are they?....one musk-stick.....how much are they? Ahhhhhhhhhhh!

"hospitalised and laid up for three months" I hope she wasn't over indulging on the Freddo Frogs, that can be dangerous.

Maybe the distribution of cash should not be in the hands of private banks, by default.
It's a government responsibility, so it should be managed by a government department.
Maybe there should be a government owned bank, which uses post offices as its branches.
That way the question of the closure of privately owned bank branches (a business decision for a privately owned company) is disconnected from the issue of the basic and essential distribution of cash.

Hi AC,

Would that be like the government owned Commonwealth Bank, that proved too competitive for its private competition so they sold it off for a song. Then there was a string of government owned State banks which were also sold off for the same reason.