BY 2030 no one will be able to make or receive payments using cheques.                                                                                                                                                                          Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced the winding down of cheques and said government was taking the “next important steps to modernise the way Australians made and received payments”.
It’s a move that Katter Party MPs “fear” would be a stepping stone to phasing out cash.
Dr Chalmers outlined the phase out of checks last Wednesday.
“Legislative and other requirements that entrench payment by cheque will be removed and government usage of cheques will be phased out by the end of 2028,” Dr Chalmers said.
“As the use of cheques plummets and many banks and financial institutions stop issuing cheque books to new customers, it is important to manage this transition in an orderly and planned way.
“We will work with industry to minimise adverse impacts to consumers and businesses and ensure vulnerable Australians have the assistance they need to switch to other payment methods.
“We understand the change in payment methods that is already underway is difficult for some people, including older Australians, and some small businesses.”
Reasons for the transition include an almost 90 percent decline in the use of cheques in the past 10 years.
“The Government will consult further this year with stakeholders on the challenges of retiring the cheque system and ensure all Australians are adequately supported.”
But Katter Party MPs Bob Katter (Kennedy) and Nick Dametto (Hinchinbrook) argue that statistics won’t support phasing out cheques in rural, regional Australia.
“[We] have continuously reminded corporate leaders and governments of the importance of bricks and mortar banking, as well as cash, to the rural and regional communities they represent.”  
The North Queensland MPs have argued statistics which are often presented along with these decisions, don’t accurately portray the needs of the demographics of their communities and are typically skewed to the metropolitan areas.                                                                                                                                                                                                            “They’ll tell you only 10 percent are using cash here, or that cheque transactions are down by a certain percentage. Well in the rural and regional area I represent, this decision definitely raises concerns about the impact on farmers, small businesses and pensioners – where cheque usage is higher,” Mr Katter said.  
“What right do you have to stop us from making a contract with another person? “You take away cash and cheques from those that rely on this means, you take away the economy of a regional town.  
“We have the right to control our money – physical cash and cheques give us that control. Banks do not, our balances are controlled by the banks.” 
Mr Katter said he feared “phasing out cheques” was a stepping stone toward phasing out cash all together.