Totalitarianism and the Withdrawal of Physical Cash – Australian Senate on Bank Closures and Access to Physical Cash – De-Banking -A Global Issue
TOTALITARIANISM AND THE WITHDRAWAL OF PHYSICAL CASH
All nations are now faced with two major historic challenges.
1. Totalitarianism as displayed ruthlessly by almost all governments during the so-called “Covid Pandemic” — which is much more accurately described as the Covid Fear and Control Demic.
And
2. The Withdrawal of Physical Cash leaving a nation totally dependent upon its banks, its electricity supply and its connections to the Internet.
These are two absolutely critical matters which will determine the future of both Democracy and Freedom, especially in regard to financial transactions.
BOOM has dealt previously with the threat from Totalitarian tendencies that emerged in the so-called “crisis” of Covid. The fear based manipulation of entire populations was clearly aimed at achieving compliance to Totalitarian government edicts. The slogan “We are not safe until we are all safe” could have been written by George Orwell or, perhaps, Joseph Stalin.
In this editorial, BOOM will show readers just how critical the second challenge is to the success of any nation.
CASH MUST ALWAYS BE AVAILABLE IN ANY ECONOMY AND ITS USE ENCOURAGED – BANKS MUST BE STRONGLY REGULATED AND ACTIVELY OVERSEEN BY GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS
BOOM readers will know that BOOM is a strong advocate for the increased use of physical Cash in all advanced economies. This is important because Cash is originated (created) with no interest cost or bank fees attached. It is Sovereign money and carries the support of all national governments as representatives of the People. It is also a natural buffer against interest bearing money that is originated (created) when a bank loan is made – BOOM calls this Credit Money. Credit Money resides on bank ledgers as a digital record, thus, it has been digital money for many decades.
Credit Money is now 97 – 98 % of fresh new money at origination (creation) in most advanced economies. This means that physical Cash is now only 2 – 3 % of fresh, new money being put into circulation.
In the 1950’s, this ratio was much closer to 50:50 and that resulted in much more stable economies with lower CPI inflation and low but steady economic growth.
Cash should always be issued by the Sovereign of a Nation upon the demand or request of the people and issued by the peoples’ elected representatives subject to Parliamentary procedure in a Republic. It should be non interest bearing and free of all fees. It should be fungible and anonymous. It can be distributed by the banking system or by other trusted distribution networks such as Postal offices, which operate in most nations.
As stated by BOOM in previous editorials — “BOOM is a strong supporter of the role of physical cash in any economy. Cash is the people’s money, issued (usually) by the Sovereign treasury (not by the banking system), non interest bearing, a buffer against credit money dominance, anonymous in usage, perfectly fungible and a natural hedge against CPI inflation. Only a foolish nation abandons its currency, either in a currency union or in the form of physical cash. Any central bank that cannot see this is also foolish in the extreme. And any government that cannot see this is worse than foolish. It is acting in treason against its own people.”
This can be summed up easily as a matter of economic principle – Physical Cash must always be readily available in any economy and its use encouraged. No foreign currency must be allowed to circulate.
If physical Cash as national currency is not available, then all of a nation’s money supply will become totally dependent upon the demand (and supply) for bank loans and banking services and also upon a reliable and “always on” supply of electricity and Internet connection. Foreign currencies may then become accepted and circulated as a substitute. Any foreign currency in circulation as physical cash is a precursor of Hyperinflation, a situation in which the national currency collapses as the people abandon it for any available alternative.
AUSTRALIAN SENATE INQUIRY INTO AUSTRALIAN BANK CLOSURES AND ACCESS TO PHYSICAL CASH
The Australian Senate has been confronted with this issue of Cash availability in regard to the arbitrary closure of bank branches in country towns. The people living in such towns have often been deprived of personal banking services but especially and more importantly, they have been deprived of a source for physical Cash. The security and flexibility of cash is of particular benefit in remote areas and during times of crisis, for example when electricity and Internet services are cut.
In February 2023, the Australian Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee established an inquiry into the extent of bank closures in regional Australia.
This inquiry was the latest in a long line of inquiries and investigations into the behaviour of Australia’s banks in relation to closing branches. There have been numerous Parliamentary and independent inquiries into the financial sector and regional accessibility.
The committee subsequently received 609 submissions from many individuals, banks, ADI’s and community organisations. This included every Australian owned authorised deposit-taking institution (ADI), Australian Government departments, state governments, financial industry associations, regional communities, advocacy bodies, First Nations organisations, universities, think tanks, and unions. The submissions are listed and published on the Committee’s Website
Over time, the “Big Four” major Australian banks have progressively reduced their regional bank branch networks by 51 %, 63.5 %, 71.5 % and 76 %. Lack of ready access to financial services and to physical Cash is the outcome for rural residents.
The Inquiry was established to consider the following matters:
The committee heard repeatedly throughout the inquiry that there are many benefits to using cash instead of digital transactions.
A key problem is around the definition of what a bank branch is. The question wasa raised: Are cashless banks actually banks? One submission summed this up.
“When you take tellers and cash service out of a bank, which ANZ and [National Australia Bank] are doing—I think the others are starting— …. they become cashless banks—one journalist the other day was asking me about fake banks, and I think that’s probably a really good term to describe them”.
The Inquiry has been on-going for over 12 months and it issued a Report last month, in late May 2024. The Report is available as a PDF Document (199 Pages). BOOM highly recommends it for anyone in any nation, interested in the subject of money.
It made the following recommendations. BOOM strongly agrees with all of them: List of Eight Recommendations
Recommendation 1
2.153 The committee recommends that the Australian Government adopt a policy recognising access to financial services as an essential service. To this end, it should commit to guaranteeing reasonable access to cash and financial services for all Australians.
Recommendation 2
5.39 The committee recommends that the Australian Government commission an expert panel to investigate the feasibility of establishing a publicly owned bank. In investigating this, the panel should examine options including, but not limited to a stand-alone public bank or one associated with, and using the branch network of Australia Post.
Recommendation 3
5.54 The committee recommends that the Australian Government urgently develop a mandatory Banking Code of Conduct or Customer Service Code (Code), incorporating a robust branch closure process, to be administered by a regulator with expertise in consumer protection.
The new Code would require financial institutions to:
undertake meaningful consultation with communities before a branch is closed;
prepare and submit a comprehensive report on the potential impacts of the closure and identify alternative financial services in the event of closure; and
implement and fully fund transition arrangements and ongoing support services which ensure access to cash and essential banking services following a closure.
5.55 The committee recommends that the regulator would assess compliance with the Code before any closure is agreed to.
Recommendation 4
5.56 In enforcing the mandatory Banking Code outlined in Recommendation 3, the committee recommends that the regulator be authorised to approve or defer any closure request. In deferring a closure, the regulator would be authorised to direct a bank to take certain reasonable actions, including to order further consultation or provide additional information to the regulator.
5.57 The regulator should be provided with a range of penalties should a bank fail to comply with an order to defer closure, or with any other undertaking.
Recommendation 5
5.58 The committee recommends that the Australian Government commission the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to explore the barriers to customers switching banks, with a view to allowing those that open and/or maintain branches in regional, rural and remote towns to attract more business.
Recommendation 6
5.65 The committee recommends the Australian Government establish the Regional Community Banking Branch Program (RCBBP). The objective of the RCBBP would be to help underwrite the establishment of ‘community bank’ branches providing in-person banking services in regional, rural and remote Australia. Local communities would be required to raise their own capital as well, but the government contributions could help lower the required amounts. Consideration could also be given to using this fund to help enhance financial services available at Australia Post.
5.66 To support the RCBBP, the committee recommends that the Australian Government establish a supplement to the Major Banks Levy to be levied on the major banks. Funds raised by the supplement must be hypothecated to provide funding to the RCBBP.
Recommendation 7
5.77 The committee recommends that the Australian Government works closely with the banks and Australia Post, to require all major banks to have agreements with Bank@Post and to harmonise the terms of Bank@Post agreements to improve fairness and sustainability. Specifically, agreements should include increased deposit limits to support small businesses, provisions to facilitate identification verification, and to handle issues around temporary account closures or multiple signatory requirements.
5.78 Major banks that do not put in place agreements with Bank@Post to deliver financial services should pay an increased supplementary levy as described in Recommendation 6.
Recommendation 8
5.83 The committee recommends that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission consider measures to protect access to personal and business banking services in regional, rural and remote locations. This may include, but not be limited to, proposing an authorisation to circumvent anti?competitive laws such that banks can cooperate for the purposes of reducing the impacts of bank branch closures on regional communities.
YOUNG AUSTRALIAN DENIED ACCESS TO HIS BANK – DEBANKING ALSO OCCURRED FOR SOME CITIZENS DURING THE TRUCKERS PROTEST IN CANADA IN FEBRUARY 2022
Canadian banks froze the accounts of people linked to the trucker protests in Canada in February 2022. They were ordered to do so by the federal government in an attempt to clear demonstrators and their trucks from Ottawa, which had been occupied for nearly a month. The protest was against Covid mandates and other measures such as lock downs and masking for schools.
On February 17, 2022, the Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said in a press conference that financial institutions had started freezing bank accounts and cancelling credit cards in accordance with the Emergencies Act, which the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had invoked.
The powers granted by the Act allowed banks to also target the accounts of people who had donated to crowdfunding platforms, like the fundraising campaigns on GoFundMe and GiveSendGo.
Freeland said (ominously) —
“We now have the tools to follow the money. We can see what is happening and what is being planned in real time and we are absolutely determined that this must end now and for good”.
BOOM can easily imagine Stalin or Pol Pot saying that.
That was an example of Totalitarianism from a national Government where they chose to block some targeted citizens’ access to physical Cash and to any bank deposits they had accumulated. In other words the Government of Canada became tyrannical and, in BOOM’s opinion, effectively stabbed the nation in its very heart.
Now in Australia …….
Last week, BOOM read a report concerning a young Australian, aged 20 years, with no criminal history who was “debanked” due to his political views. Melbourne man Michael Nelson, recently received a letter from Bendigo Bank informing him that his account would be closed in 21 days, citing a clause in their terms and conditions.
“As a result of a recent internal review conducted by the Bank and careful consideration, we have determined that we are unable to continue providing you with banking and financial services. This decision has been made in order to protect the Bank’s legitimate interests,” read the letter, which was reportedly unsigned.
The relevant clause, 16.4, states that the bank may close an account at any time due to “unsatisfactory conduct”, which it says includes behaviour that is “defamatory, harassing, threatening to any person”, or “promotes or encourages physical or mental harm of any person”.
There is currently no law in Australia against debanking, but in June last year Australian government regulator AUSTRAC warned that banks should consider federal, state and territory anti-discrimination legislation before choosing to cease services.
And in the UK …..
In June 2023, British bank Coutts closed the account of well known politician and former leader of the Brexit Party (now Reform UK), Nigel Farage, after deciding his values “did not align” with the bank’s, saying, “at best he is seen as xenophobic and pandering to racists, and at worst, he is seen as xenophobic and racist”.
However, perhaps due to Mr Farage’s wealth, status and establishment support, including from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, he was able to force an investigation and that resulted in the subsequent resignation of not only the Coutts chief executive, but also the CEO of owner NatWest.
References: Both full stories are worth reading in full and are available here —
On Nigel Farage in the UK: https://news.sky.com/story/key-points-from-coutts-dossier-on-nigel-farage-12924078
And On Michael Nelson in Australia: https://www.noticer.news/australian-nationalist-debanked-political-views/
Banks Freezing Accounts Linked to Trucker Protest: https://www.newsweek.com/banks-have-begun-freezing-accounts-linked-trucker-protest-1680649
DE-BANKING – A GLOBAL ISSUE
A LEGAL CASE ON WRONGFUL TERMINATION OF BANKING SERVICES – ANOTHER AUSTRALIAN STORY OF TOTALITARIAN BANKING CONTROL
The recent case of Human Appeal International Australia v Beyond Bank concerned the circumstances of a wrongful termination of banking services.
The case — Human Appeal International Australia v Beyond Bank Australia Ltd (No 2) [2023] NSWSC 1161 – concerns the conduct of a bank which de-banked a corporate customer (who also happened to be an owner of the community owned/mutual bank itself).
De-banking is a term that describes the circumstances when a bank declines to provide banking services or withdraws banking services from an existing customer or class of customer. The Australian Government’s response to de-banking suggests that de-banking may be driven by several inter-related causes, including Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) laws, sanctions compliance, profitability, and reputational risk considerations.
In August of 2022, the Australian Council of Financial Regulators, the Attorney General’s Department, AUSTRAC and ACCC issued a joint Report titled — “Potential Policy Responses to De-banking in Australia”
In the Report, they referred to that fact that this is becoming a global problem — “Few affected countries have been able to adequately address the issue of de-banking. The systematic de-banking of legitimate businesses across entire sectors can have significant impacts on affected businesses and increase their risk profile by forcing them to operate outside of the legal framework and conduct transactions exclusively in cash.”
The Beyond Bank case involved a bank (Beyond Bank) exercising a discretionary power, under its banking contract with the customer (Human Appeal), to close a customer’s accounts, even though those accounts were in credit and were being operated in accordance with the Bank’s trading terms. Beyond Bank purported to unilaterally close Human Appeal’s banking facilities without providing a valid reason but relied on account terms and conditions to terminate them.
Beyond Bank is a mutual bank owned by its members. Such banks are relatively common in Australia and have emerged from Building Societies and Credit Unions that were (mostly) established many decades ago. Most of the major banks in Australia, however, are shareholder owned banks.
Human Appeal was both an account owner and a member of the Bank entitling it to hold an account together with member rights. In other words, it was a part owner of the bank and an account holder. Human Appeal’s website lists its Partner organisations as MCCA (Islamic Finance and Investments), the Islamic Museum of Australia, the Islamic Council of Victoria and the Australian Halal Certification Authority. Human Appeal is a company limited by guarantee which operates as a charity registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. It was established more than 30 years ago with particular support from the Muslim community in Australia. Human Appeal had established banking facilities with Beyond Bank since March 2021.
In mid-August 2021, the Bank notified Human Appeal that it was closing its accounts. The termination of Human Appeal’s banking facilities was effected by notice in the form of an email sent by the bank on 11 August 2021:
“A recent review was conducted and as a result the bank has concluded that your banking business is not suited to Beyond Bank and therefore, we will exercise our right to close all of your banking facilities under membership XXXXXXXX, with effect from close of business 20/8/2021.” “I am not in a position to provide any further information as to why your banking business is not suited to Beyond Bank.”
At the time, the balance of the Human Appeal’s Community Account was around $6.1 million in credit, and its Visa Debit Account was around $13,600 in credit.
Pertinent to the case is The Customer Owned Banking Code of Practice (Code) which is the code of practice for Australia’s mutual banks, credit unions and building societies. That Code is published on the website of the Community Owned Banking Association. If readers wish to peruse it, the link is provided at the end of this article.
The Court decision
The Court did not accept either of the following matters:
The judgement focused on specific account and trading terms and conditions adopted by the Bank. In this regard the Court:
Summary: In the circumstances of the Case, the Bank was obliged to have reasonable evidence to support its determination that it had a valid commercial reason to terminate the Customer’s banking facilities and to disclose that reason to its Customer. That is, the Bank was only entitled to terminate Human Appeal’s banking facilities if it had “a valid commercial reason” for doing so. The case suggests that to validly de-bank a customer a bank does not have a unilateral right to terminate its relationship with a customer pursuant to an express termination provision in its trading or account terms as other factors intervene such as:
However, if a bank satisfies these criteria, then the termination of banking facilities may be valid. BOOM is not a lawyer and does not offer legal advice. This article is published for general information purposes only. It is not legal advice. It should not be relied on as specific advice.
Human Appeal’s website —
The Customer Owned Banking Code of Practice (Code) — https://www.customerownedbanking.asn.au/about-us/our-sector/code-of-practice/
THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY UNDER ATTACK FROM GOVERNMENTS, BANKS AND MAINSTREAM MEDIA
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a milestone document in the history of human rights. Drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world, the Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 (General Assembly resolution 217 A) as a common standard of achievements for all peoples and all nations. It sets out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected and it has been?translated into over 500 languages.?The UDHR?is widely recognized as having inspired, and paved the way for, the adoption of more than seventy human rights treaties, applied today on a permanent basis at global and regional levels (all containing references to it in their preambles).?
PREAMBLE —
Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,
Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,
Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,
Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,
Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,
FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY UNDER ATTACK FROM GOVERNMENTS, BANKS AND MAINSTREAM MEDIA
The issues raised in today’s editorial are central to the concepts of national Democracy and Freedom. They include Totalitarianism, access to physical Cash, access to financial services, De-banking (unilateral closure or control of bank accounts), bank branch closures and “digital” money, along with digital identity.
In essence, BOOM is warning readers of Totalitarian tendencies that are clearly developing in all democratic nations. Governments, banks and the mainstream media are all currently displaying these worrying tendencies. They use fear as a control mechanism and they use veiled threats as a means to exert corporate power over individuals.
Medical Fascism is rising as their favourite means of control. So-called “Public Health” is the method of attack. Private health is clearly their enemy.
Financial Fascism, Energy Supply Fascism and Food Supply Fascism are next, then enslavement will come. Beware.
Democracy and Freedom are very rare circumstances in human history. We must all become acutely aware of the very real threats that are arising.
We must all decide to stand for Freedom and Democracy against Totalitarianism, for our Nations against NGOs (unelected Non Government Organisations), for our National Currencies and for our Universal Rights. If we don’t, then our enslavement in a Totalitarian dictatorship is guaranteed.
History shows us that Totalitarian power inevitably results in tyranny and torture. If we don’t do this as individuals, then governments, banks and the mainstream media will assume greater and greater power over us, our children and our grand children.
They took absolute control during the Covid Fear Demic and stated “we act for the greater good”, “we act to keep you safe”, “nobody is safe until everybody is safe”. They assumed power over and above the Universally accepted Declaration for Human Rights. Beware. Our governments, our banks and our mainstream media were all involved.
And let’s not forget, the ultimate aim and outcome of tyranny is slavery. Our planet’s history is littered with examples of battles won against slavery. It is the universal battle that we must all fight against and which we must win.
Excerpts from the Universal Declaration for Human Rights — 10th December 1948.
Many (all?) governments trampled on these universal rights over the last 4 years, since 2020, giving the excuse of a so-called “deadly global pandemic” which was no more deadly than an Influenza epidemic.
Article 4
No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.
Article 5
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Article 9
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
Article 10
Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.
Article 12
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.
Article 13
Article 17
Article 19
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
Article 20
Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
Article 21
The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.
In economics, things work until they don’t. Until next week, make your own conclusions, do your own research. BOOM does not offer investment advice.
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