Latest news with #Cramp
Perth Now
05-08-2025
- Perth Now
Major change to Australian passports
A major change to how Australians apply for a new passport is reportedly about to be introduced by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). While Australians can renew their passports online, the process to obtain a new passport requires Australians to either apply online then lodge an application in person at Australia Post, or complete a paper application and lodge it a post office. Soon Australians will be able to apply for a new passport online without having to go into a post office making it easier and quicker for people to apply for a passport digitally, DFAT said in a statement to 2GB. Australians will no longer have to go into an Australia Post office to lodge a new passport application and will be able to apply online. Credit: NewsWire Licensed Post Office Group executive director Angela Cramp told 2GB the change had been years in the making and was expected to be introduced in the coming year. Ms Cramp said some Australians still relied on face-to-face contact and wanted to make sure their passport application was lodged at an Australia Post office so a person could check they had the correct documents. For some people, applying for a passport was a very stressful experience because they were worried about having the correct documents or not getting their application approved, she added. 'Most people do want to come and make sure that their passport is lodged at a passport at a post office, and we check all the documents for them,' she told 2GB. DFAT have been contacted for comment.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
200k Aussies rail against cashless society
Cash use across Australia has soared over the past few months, with a major cash awareness campaign calling on banks to back an 'easily available means of payment' amid rampant closures. More than 200,000 Australians have signed a Cash Welcome petition calling for guarantees for 'reasonable local access' to cash and banking services. The aim of the campaign is to push back against a cashless society, with millions of Aussies still requiring cash. Reserve Bank data shows $103.7bn in Australian banknotes circulating, an increase of $3bn since October 2024. Cash Welcome campaign founder Jason Bryce said the campaign had so far been successful but there was more work to be done to keep cash going in Australia. 'I encourage everyone to make a submission to the government's consultation about cash (by the 14th of February) because we have made them sit up and take notice. Now is the time to ensure they follow through and deliver,' Mr Bryce said. 'What happens in 2025 will set the scene for how we buy and sell in Australia for the next 30 years at least. Only cash is private, reliable, inclusive and surcharge-free at the point of sale. Banks have an obligation to ensure we can access our money as cash in our own communities.' The petition has surpassed 200,000 signatures on the same day as the federal government has shored up bush cash services. As part of the announcement, the major banks will hold a moratorium on regional branch closures until July 2027 and increase funding for Bank@Post operations, which have picked up a lot of the slack as regional banks close. Licensed Post Office Group executive director Angela Cramp told NewsWire that people were using digital services to pay for big-ticket items but noted a spike in cash operations out of the postal service. 'Cash is necessary and our problem is the banks do not want to afford a branch with a lot of downtime, so post offices are an excellent solution,' she said. 'It's a tricky one, as it's why banks are leaving. They've encouraged everyone to go online and they've made their services easier online, but you can't get $50 out of your phone no matter how clever you are.' Ms Cramp said there was still a place in cash for regional and remote communities, with Tuesday's announcement a step towards supporting these areas. 'We are finding an increased amount of people coming to the post office for their walking-around money. They are looking for $200 so they can buy their coffee instead of their phones. There's certainly an increasing use for cash, it's coming back,' Ms Cramp said. From January 1, 2026, businesses selling essential products, including fuel, medicines and groceries, will legally be required to accept cash payments.
