Cheques and the Payments System

Cash and cheques were virtually the only means of payment available to most Australians until Bankcard credit cards were introduced a little over 20 years ago. Only in the past decade or so has there been a credible and concerted challenge to the dominant role of cheques for non-cash payments. Today we are seeing the emergence of many alternative payment arrangements; at the same time, banks and others are under pressure to wind back elements of cross-subsidisation and to price services to recover costs.