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Telstra outage killed cards again but are we dismantling the cash backup?

Technology Reporter
15 Jul, 2026
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Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Technology Reporter
15 Jul, 2026
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Tens of thousands of merchants couldn't accept card payments last Wednesday, and customers were left with cash as the only option to pay for goods and services. Plenty of them didn't have any. The RBA calls physical cash an "all hazards" hedge. But are banks, the government and the card schemes all planning for the day it goes away?
Telstra outage killed cards again but are we dismantling the cash backup?
CEO Nigel Lee and Telstra CEO Vicki Brady were caught in the crossfire after last week’s Telstra outage that hit card payments across the country.

Tens of thousands of merchants couldn't accept card payments last Wednesday, and customers were left with cash as the only option to pay for goods and services. Plenty of them didn't have any. The RBA calls physical cash an "all hazards" hedge. But are banks, the government and the card schemes all planning for the…

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