University of Wollongong law student, Olivier Griffiths, takes on uni for cashless parking policy

A South Coast law student protesting his university’s cashless parking system is set to fight a fine in court, arguing tangible currency cannot be refused as it is “legal tender”.

A South Coast law student protesting his university’s cashless parking system is set to fight a fine in court, arguing tangible currency cannot be refused as it is “legal tender”.

University of Wollongong fourth-year law student Oliver Griffiths has dubbed himself a “Cash Crusader” after slamming the tertiary facility’s move to cashless parking.

Mr Griffiths said cash was vital to a resilient economy and noted Australians should be free to use it.

“I’m not against people having a cashless option, but I work at Aldi and see so many people who rely on cash,” he told this publication.

“Women in domestic violence situations who need cash to hide purchases, the elderly who prefer it, or when the internet drops out — people need cash.”

University of Wollongong law student, Oliver Griffiths. Picture: Tom McGann

In protest, Mr Griffiths left notes on his dashboard offering to pay in cash and included his contact details for parking inspectors. He has now been fined $97.

“We’re going to be fighting it,” he said.

The University of Wollongong has implemented cashless parking. Picture: Tom McGann

Mr Griffiths argued his case was “strong”, and that he had been hitting weighty legal tomes as “research”.

“I’ve been researching and I’ve come to the conclusion the term ‘legal tender’ isn’t clearly defined by the courts,” he said.

“If you seek to tender a debt, that debt cannot be refused if it’s in legal tender.”

He cited a similar case in Germany, where a man who was denied the option to pay a TV licence fee in cash took it to court — and won.

Oliver Griffiths intends to appeal the fine in Nowra Local Court. Picture: Supplied

“He took the case to court and won the appeal, because tangible cash is legal tender,” Mr Griffiths said.

But Nowra solicitor Brett Ford, of Douglass and Ford Criminal Law, wasn’t convinced.

“It’s hard to tell what will happen when he takes it to court,” he said.

“I really don’t know — it depends how the facility rolled out the cashless system.”

The University of Wollongong said in a statement to the media that cash options were still available across campus.

“That’s just not true,” Mr Griffiths said.

“I’ve searched the entire campus — there aren’t any.”

Mr Griffiths now hopes his case will prompt the university to rethink its policy.

“If all the students protested and demanded a cash option, I think the university would change,” he said.

Mr Griffiths will appeal the fine in Nowra Local Court at a later date.

Got a story? Email [e-mail]

Originally published as University of Wollongong law student, Olivier Griffiths, takes on uni for cashless parking policy