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Cash Distribution Framework (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions)

Current status

This bill is currently before Parliament.

Policy area

Budget, tax & economy

What does this bill do?

For the first 24 months, the ACCCThe national competition regulator that would oversee service agreements, standards and temporary directions under the cash framework. can direct designated cash-distribution businesses to serve customers on specified terms, including prices, when cash availability is materially at risk.

Why was it introduced?

The new Cash Distribution FrameworkThe new national regulatory system intended to keep important cash distribution services available, sustainable and resilient. creates a need to coordinate existing laws, protect prior agreements and cover businesses during its first 24 months. This bill makes consequential changesChanges to existing laws needed so they operate consistently with the new Cash Distribution Framework., provides transitional protectionsTemporary rules that manage the move into the new framework, including protections applying during its first 24 months. and guides the ACCCThe national competition regulator that would oversee service agreements, standards and temporary directions under the cash framework. and Reserve BankAustralia's central bank, whose board would use new powers to support the nationwide availability of cash. in maintaining cash availability.

Broader context

Australia already had a cash-acceptance mandate for certain fuel and grocery retailers from 1 January 2026, but declining cash use was putting pressure on the economics of the distribution system and leaving few regulatory safeguards for critical services. After the Council of Financial RegulatorsA coordinating group of Australia's main financial regulators that examined whether cash distribution needed stronger safeguards. and ACCCThe national competition regulator that would oversee service agreements, standards and temporary directions under the cash framework.’s July 2025 consultation, and as major banks moved towards a joint cash-distribution ventureA business arrangement in which separate organisations work together on a shared operation, here a bank-backed cash distribution service. in June 2026, the government introduced this bill on 2 July 2026 to coordinate the new framework and protect its transition.

Key criticism

No significant public case against the bill is recorded so far. The only recorded parliamentary speech supported its transitional arrangementsTemporary rules that manage the move into the new framework, including protections applying during its first 24 months., while the Senate committee inquiryA parliamentary review in which a Senate committee examines the bill, receives evidence and reports possible concerns or recommended changes. remains underway and could identify implementation or safeguard concerns.

Who supported it?

Daniel Mulino MP introduced this bill. Supportive speeches so far have come from Labor.

Introduced in House 02 July 2026
At second reading in House 02 July 2026
Not yet reached Senate —
Not yet law —

Did it become law?

Not yet

Final passage

No final vote yet

The bill has not yet completed passage through Parliament.

Days since introduction

36 days

Updated 07 Aug 2026.

Official record

View on APH

Parliament of Australia bill page

Meaning

What does this bill do?

  1. For the first 24 months, the ACCCThe national competition regulator that would oversee service agreements, standards and temporary directions under the cash framework. can direct designated cash-distribution businesses to serve customers on specified terms, including prices, when cash availability is materially at risk.

  2. Existing customer agreements made before a cash-distribution business was designated are generally protected from an ACCC interim directionA temporary ACCC order requiring a designated business to provide services on specified conditions, including prices, when cash availability is seriously threatened. if they have not since been changed.

  3. Company directors receive protection from insolvent-trading liabilityPersonal legal exposure that company officers can face if they allow a company to incur debts when it cannot pay them. for certain ordinary business debts incurred while the cash frameworkThe new national regulatory system intended to keep important cash distribution services available, sustainable and resilient. blocks appointment of an external administratorAn independent insolvency professional appointed to take control of, restructure or wind up a financially distressed company..

  4. The Reserve BankAustralia's central bank, whose board would use new powers to support the nationwide availability of cash.'s Payments System Board must ensure the Bank's new cash-distribution powers are used in the way it considers best supports the availability of cash across Australia.

  5. The changes start with the main Cash Distribution Framework lawThe new national regulatory system intended to keep important cash distribution services available, sustainable and resilient. and do not start if that law never commencesThe point when legislation begins to operate; this bill starts only if and when the main framework law starts..

Show source excerpts
  1. transition period means the period of 24 months beginning on the day this Schedule commences.
    Cash Distribution Framework (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) introduced bill text
  2. (2) An interim direction does not apply to a designated entity, in relation to the designated entity’s provision of a cash distribution service or facilities access to a customer, to the extent that:
    Cash Distribution Framework (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) introduced bill text
  3. (1) Subsection 588G(2) does not apply in relation to a person and a debt incurred by a body corporate if the debt is incurred:
    Cash Distribution Framework (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) introduced bill text
  4. (da) to ensure the Bank’s functions and powers under the cash distribution framework are performed and exercised in a way that, in the Board’s opinion, best contributes to the availability of cash (as defined by the Cash Distribution Framework Act 2026) in Australia; and
    Cash Distribution Framework (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) introduced bill text
  5. The Consequential and Transitional Bill commences and applies at the same time as the Bill commences. This ensures that the provisions do not commence at all if the Bill does not commence.
    Cash Distribution Framework (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) explanatory memorandum

Context

Broader context for this bill

Australia already had a cash-acceptance mandate for certain fuel and grocery retailers from 1 January 2026, but declining cash use was putting pressure on the economics of the distribution system and leaving few regulatory safeguards for critical services. After the Council of Financial RegulatorsA coordinating group of Australia's main financial regulators that examined whether cash distribution needed stronger safeguards. and ACCCThe national competition regulator that would oversee service agreements, standards and temporary directions under the cash framework.’s July 2025 consultation, and as major banks moved towards a joint cash-distribution ventureA business arrangement in which separate organisations work together on a shared operation, here a bank-backed cash distribution service. in June 2026, the government introduced this bill on 2 July 2026 to coordinate the new framework and protect its transition.

  1. July 2025

    Regulators conclude cash distributionThe commercial transport, storage, processing, collection and supply of banknotes and coins so businesses and communities can obtain cash. needs safeguards

    The Council of Financial RegulatorsA coordinating group of Australia's main financial regulators that examined whether cash distribution needed stronger safeguards. and the ACCCThe national competition regulator that would oversee service agreements, standards and temporary directions under the cash framework.’s consultation concluded that critical cash-distribution servicesThe commercial transport, storage, processing, collection and supply of banknotes and coins so businesses and communities can obtain cash. needed regulatory safeguards to keep cash accessible, sustainable, resilient and efficient.

    Cash Distribution Framework (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) explanatory memorandum ↗
  2. 01 Jan 2026

    Cash acceptance mandateThe rule requiring certain fuel and grocery retailers to accept in-person cash payments up to $500 during specified hours. begins

    Certain fuel and grocery retailers must accept in-person cash payments up to $500 between 7am and 9pm, increasing the need for businesses to obtain cash at reasonable cost.

    Cash Distribution Framework (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) explanatory memorandum ↗
  3. 26 June 2026

    Major banks move towards direct cash distributionThe commercial transport, storage, processing, collection and supply of banknotes and coins so businesses and communities can obtain cash.

    The ACCCThe national competition regulator that would oversee service agreements, standards and temporary directions under the cash framework. granted interim authorisationTemporary ACCC permission for businesses to cooperate in conduct that could otherwise raise competition-law concerns while a final decision is considered. for a joint ventureA business arrangement in which separate organisations work together on a shared operation, here a bank-backed cash distribution service. involving Australia’s four biggest banks to distribute notes and coins commercially from 2027, expanding the parties able to supply cash.

    Bloomberg ↗
  4. 02 July 2026

    Daniel Mulino MP introduces the bill

    The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives to coordinate the new cash-distribution frameworkThe new national regulatory system intended to keep important cash distribution services available, sustainable and resilient., protect existing agreements and provide transitional safeguardsTemporary rules that manage the move into the new framework, including protections applying during its first 24 months. during its first 24 months.

    Parliamentary timeline ↗

Legislative route

How did it move through Parliament?

House Senate
Economics review 01 July 2026

Referred to Committee (01/07/2026): Senate Economics Legislation Committee; Report due 07/08/2026

Report due 07 Aug 2026

APH bill page notes
Introduced 02 July 2026

The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.

Introduced and read a first time

Second reading opened 02 July 2026

A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.

Second reading moved

Key criticism

The main case against this bill

No significant public case against the bill is recorded so far. The only recorded parliamentary speech supported its transitional arrangementsTemporary rules that manage the move into the new framework, including protections applying during its first 24 months., while the Senate committee inquiryA parliamentary review in which a Senate committee examines the bill, receives evidence and reports possible concerns or recommended changes. remains underway and could identify implementation or safeguard concerns.

The committee is due to report on 7 August 2026.

Votes

Recorded votes

No recorded votes have been found yet for this bill.

Parliamentary debate

Who spoke, and what they said

Start here — lead voices

Sponsor speech Supports

Daniel Mulino

Australian Labor Party • MP 02 July 2026

Mulino supports the consequential amendmentsChanges to existing laws needed so they operate consistently with the new Cash Distribution Framework. bill because it provides transitional arrangementsTemporary rules that manage the move into the new framework, including protections applying during its first 24 months., including an interim ACCC powerA temporary ACCC order requiring a designated business to provide services on specified conditions, including prices, when cash availability is seriously threatened. to maintain cash distribution servicesThe commercial transport, storage, processing, collection and supply of banknotes and coins so businesses and communities can obtain cash. while the broader framework is implemented.

Read in Hansard ↗

All speeches by bloc

Labor

1 speaker · 1 support

  1. Daniel Mulino ★ Mulino supports the consequential amendmentsChanges to existing laws needed so they operate consistently with the new Cash Distribution Framework. bill because it provides transitional arrangementsTemporary rules that manage the move into the new framework, including protections applying during its first 24 months., including an interim ACCC powerA temporary ACCC order requiring a designated business to provide services on specified conditions, including prices, when cash availability is seriously threatened. to maintain cash distribution servicesThe commercial transport, storage, processing, collection and supply of banknotes and coins so businesses and communities can obtain cash. while the broader framework is implemented.
    “Today, I am also introducing the Cash Distribution Framework (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2026. This bill makes consequential amendments and transitional provisions to support the Cash Distribution Framework Bill 2026, which seeks to maintain access to cash across Australia and support businesses and financial institutions to continue offering cash services. Importantly, it gives the ACCC an interim transitional power to help ensure continuity of cash distribution services while the broader framework is implemented. The Legislative and Governance Forum for Corporations was notified, as required under the Corporations Agreement 2002. Full details of the measure are contained in the explanatory memorandum.”

    Australian Labor Party • MP • 02 July 2026

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗

Record

Full record

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