Anger as long-running book fair announces it's going 'cashless'

A long-running book fair has sparked anger after announcing it will go cash-free.

The University of Sydney’s 37th annual Chancellor’s Committee Book Fair will be held later this month.

It’s being held in collaboration with Lifeline Sydney this year, the university says.

Half the money will go to the charity and half to the university’s Chancellor’s Committee.

However, this year buyers won’t be able to use cash to pay for their second-hand books.

“For the first time in 2024, the Book Fair will go cashless. If you’re keen to make a purchase, you’ll need to make sure you bring your card,” the university said on its website.

Joe Alvaro told 9News.com.au he feared the move would exclude people and called for it to be reviewed.

“Not everyone has a card or wants to use a card. Some vulnerable people in our community do not have a card,” he told 9News.com.au.

A spokeswoman for the University of Sydney said it was following the “trend” of going cash-free and also wanted to ensure the “safety” of volunteers.

“This year, we’ve decided to use convenient digital payment methods for purchases at the Fair – in line with a general trend away from cash and toward card payments at the Fair, and to support the safety of our volunteers by removing the need for them to handle large amounts of cash,” she told 9News.com.au.

“While our new Book Fair partner Lifeline Sydney and Sutherland have advised they still accept cash donations at the event, registers will be digital-only and our signage and promotions will continue to encourage digital payments.”

The book fair began in 1986 as Bookfest.

It said in the past it has had up to 50,000 books on sale.

It is legal for companies to exclude cash payments, according to the ACCC.

“This includes whether they will accept cash payment. However, consumers must be made aware of these terms and conditions before they make a purchase.”