Ampol's cashless expansion poses challenge as fuel giant secures exemption from cash mandate

Ampol has announced plans to triple its cashless U-Go network after securing a five-year exemption from Australia's new cash mandate, according to Perth Now. The move has sparked criticism as un-Australian, raising concerns about access to essential services for cash-preferring consumers.

For Perth motorists and businesses, the expansion of cashless-only fuel sites threatens to narrow payment options in a city where cash use remains significant among older residents, rural communities, and those without banking access. If Ampol continues expanding U-Go stations across Western Australia's key fuel routes, drivers may find themselves stranded without their preferred payment method.

The fuel giant's exemption highlights a broader tension between retail convenience and consumer choice. While cashless systems offer speed and data collection benefits to retailers, the federal cash mandate was designed to protect vulnerable Australians. Perth residents who rely on cash may need to actively seek out remaining pump stations that accept payment methods beyond digital transactions.

Sources: perthnow.com.au.

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