WHY POLYMER ?

Between 1992 and 1996, the Bank progressively introduced a new series of notes to replace the original decimal notes, which were first issued in 1966. The new notes are printed on polymer (plastic) substrate instead of traditional paper. Polymer currency note technology was developed in Australia, jointly by the Bank and the CSIRO.

Australia was the first country in the world to replace all its paper notes with polymer notes. The Bank made the move to polymer to make Australia's notes more secure against counterfeiting, which had been on the increase as modern reprographic equipment became more readily available. Polymer notes are also more durable than paper notes (lasting around four times as long), are cleaner and more hygienic, and can be recycled at the end of their useful life into a range of plastic products.