Young Aussie finds huge loophole in parking fines - and why he's now refusing to pay
A young law student is disputing a parking fine he received while at university, claiming the parking meter did not give him the option to pay in cash.Oliver Griffiths, who is studying law at the University of Wollongong, received a $97 fine earlier this month after parking his car on campus.The university changed its parking policy last year, introducing digital parking machines that accept card-only payments.However, Mr Griffiths claimed there was signage visible in the car park that stated payment could be made with 'credit card or coins' at the time he received the fine.In a video shared to Facebook, Mr Griffiths outlined his plan to challenge the fine in his fight against a cashless society.'My name is Oliver and I have fallen victim to the incoming cashless society,' Mr Griffiths said.'Last year, my university made parking only available through digital payment.'Instead of following along with the modern digital currency agenda, I left notes on my dashboard offering to pay in cash.' Oliver Griffiths, who is studying law at the University of Wollongong, received a $97 fine after parking on campus without a ticketThe cash crusader had left a handwritten note on the dash of his Ford Capri, explaining he was happy to organise a cash payment for the parking.He left a $10 note next to the message and also provided his phone number for the parking inspector to call so that he could organise payment.'To parking inspector, cash is Australia's legal tender,' his note read.'I am happy to pay for parking in cash. Please call me and I'll come pay in cash.'However, Mr Griffiths was still fined for parking without a ticket.Mr Griffiths, who wore a T-shirt with the slogan 'cash is king' in his social media video, outlined his pro-cash argument — one he said resonated with many Australians.'I, like so many other Aussies out there, believe that cash is king,' he said.'Cash is essential to the economic freedoms of people, and it sustains everyday purchases of small businesses and individuals daily.'It's available in emergencies, it protects your privacy, it doesn't cost you to use it, and it allows families to budget better.' Mr Griffiths refused to use the digital-only payment machines and left a note on his car explaining he would be happy to organise a cash payment (pictured) Mr Griffiths argued cash was a legal tender in Australia and at the time he received the fine, there were signs stating payment could be made via card or coins (pictured, a note Mr Griffiths left on his car)If a magistrate orders Mr Griffiths to pay the fine, the young law student has vowed he will take out his wallet and pay in cash.'I am going to keep fighting and if I have to go to the High Court I will, because cash is legal tender,' Mr Griffiths said.Last year, the federal government announced a cash mandate would come into force on January 1, 2026, requiring businesses to offer customers a cash option.Under that mandate, businesses that sell essential items like groceries and fuel must accept cash as payment.This comes as an estimated 1.5 million Australians still prefer to use cash over digital payments, despite one in four businesses no longer accepting cash.Cash use in Australia has steadily declined over the past decade—a trend that accelerated sharply following the Covid-19 pandemic.According to Reserve Bank data, the number of in-person cash transactions halved between 2019 and 2022, dropping from 32 per cent of transactions to 16 per cent.Currently, cash makes up about 10 per cent of all transactions, with projections suggesting it could fall to just seven per cent by 2030. An estimated 1.5million Australians still prefer to use cash over digital payments (stock image)Meanwhile, debit and credit card payments have remained strong, with debit card usage increasing over the same period.Jason Bryce, from advocacy group Cash Welcome, led an initiative known as 'Cash Out Day' on April 22, encouraging Aussies to withdraw cash from ATMs and banks to demonstrate its continued importance.An estimated 1.6 million people withdrew cash—totalling around $500 million—in 2024.Mr Bryce also started a 'Cash Welcome' petition on Change.org, which has garnered almost 210,000 signatures.The petition calls on the government to introduce an Australian cash and banking guarantee.It calls for 'all Australians [to] have reasonable local access to cash and full banking services,' and insists that 'all Australians must be able to choose cash when paying for food and essentials at physical retailers'.'Millions of Australian consumers and businesses trust and rely on cash for their everyday needs and for budgeting purposes,' the petition reads.'Even Australians that don't attend banks or use cash regularly need access to face-to-face banking services and physical money sometimes.'
