The Times Australia
Google AI
Business and Money

The paradox of going contactless is that we're more in love with cash than ever

  • Written by Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
The paradox of going contactless is that we're more in love with cash than everAnn Kosolapova/Shutterstock

COVID has changed you, right? You use less cash, perhaps a lot less.

In the first two months of the pandemic, cash withdrawals from automatic teller machines halved. Even now they are down 20%.

So little-used were the main notes traditionally used for small transactions – $5 and $10 notes – that authorities stop...

Read more: The paradox of going contactless is that we're more in love with cash than ever

Business Times

The Fears Australians Have About Getting Involved With Cryptocurr…

Cryptocurrency is no longer a fringe topic. It is discussed in boardrooms, on trading apps, and at suburban barbecues. Yet ...

The Evolution of Retail: From Bricks and Mortar to Online — What’…

Retail has always been a mirror of society. As populations grew, cities formed, technology advanced, and lifestyles chang...

The main-street comeback: how family-run food businesses are thri…

Walk down almost any Australian main street right now—whether it’s a coastal strip, an inner-suburban high street, or a c...

The Times Features

How to beat the post-holiday blues

As the summer holidays come to an end, many Aussies will be dreading their return to work and st...

One Nation surges above Coalition in Newspoll as Labor still well ahead, in contrast with other polls

The aftermath of the Bondi terror attacks has brought about a shift in polling for the Albanese ...

The Fears Australians Have About Getting Involved With Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency is no longer a fringe topic. It is discussed in boardrooms, on trading apps, and at...

The Quintessential Australian Road Trip

Mallacoota to Coolangatta — places to stay and things to see There are few journeys that captur...

Fitstop Just Got a New Look - And It’s All About Power, Progress and Feeling Strong

Fitstop has unveiled a bold new brand look designed to match how its members actually train: strong...

What We Know About Zenless Zone Zero 2.6 So Far

Zenless Zone Zero is currently enjoying its 2.5 version update with new characters like Ye Shunguang...

For Young People, Life Is an All-New Adventure. For Older People, Memories of Good Times and Lost Friends Come to Mind

Life does not stand still. It moves forward relentlessly, but it does not move the same way for ...

Single and Ready to Mingle – the Coffee Trend Australians Can Expect in 2026

Single-origin coffee is expected to increase in popularity among coffee drinkers over the next 12 ...

The Evolution of Retail: From Bricks and Mortar to Online — What’s Next?

Retail has always been a mirror of society. As populations grew, cities formed, technology advan...