The new-look $10 note has been spat out by vending machines, self-serve checkouts and poker machines in what has turned into a repeat of last year’s $5 bill roll-out disaster.
The brand new $10 note complete with high-tech security features was released on Wednesday, despite fears it would be rejected by machines across the country.
When the new banknote was purchased from the Reserve Bank of Australia on Wednesday, it was subjected to tests across Sydney. And while it passed some, it failed most.
The new notes have been designed with high-tech security features to stop counterfeiting
The Reserve Bank of Australia printed 200 million copies of the note which it said boasted significant changes that would make it harder to counterfeit as well as tiny embossed bumps to aid the vision-impaired.
While the bank said it was an improvement, there were concerns raised.
Betting giant Tabcorp raised concerns there could be a delay in distributing the new note from its automated terminals.
When the note was tested in TAB betting terminals on Wednesday, it was rejected, saying: ‘Warning: bad or invalid banknote detected’, News.com.au reported.
The note was also refused by thirty different poker machines across Sydney.
The note was also refused by thirty different poker machines across Sydney on Wednesday
While the note was rejected at self-service checkouts at two IGA supermarkets, it was accepted at Coles (pictured), Woolworths and Kmart
When the note was inserted into a vending machine at Sydney’s Central Station, the machine swallowed the note without recognising it, the publication reported.
The $10 was accepted in a separate vending machine which advertised it accepted the new banknote.
While the note was rejected at self-service checkouts at two IGA supermarkets, it was accepted at Coles, Woolworths and Kmart.
The note was also accepted by New South Wales public transport card, OPAL, top up machines, News.com.au reported.
While the note was rejected at self-service checkouts at two IGA supermarkets, it was accepted at Coles, Woolworths (pictured) and Kmart
With the note causing headaches across the city, a TAB spokesman said the company planned to update its betting terminals to accept it.
A spokesman said the company was updating its terminals to accept the new note, but it might not be done until late October.
Gaming Technologies Association chief Ross Ferrar said new poker machines would be built to accept it, but note readers would need to be updated on older machines.
The note was released on Wednesday to a line-up of eager buyers, some of whom were money collectors.
The new $10 note as shown on the left maintains some similarities with the old note (right)
Problems with the $10 note mirror those of the $5 note released last year.
Lindsay Boulton, the RBA’s assistant governor for business services, said businesses had been given six months to prepare for the new notes.
Provender operator Carlo Furnari told Daily Mail Australia there was a ‘learning curve’ to adapting with new notes, as was evidenced when the new $5 note came into circulation.
‘It was a bit of a pain, but we’ve done it once, there’s experience from the last time.’
He said software in note acceptors would need to be updated to identify the new $10 note, which cost ‘about $10 or $15’ according to Mr Furnari.
Similar to the redesigned $5 note, the new $10 note will have a clear top-to-bottom window, a feature which the Reserve Bank says will improve security and prevent fake notes from being circulated.
The new note (right) has a clear window running top to bottom, unlike the old note (left)
Key aspects of the existing look of the $10 note were retained, including the light blue colour, size and faces of two of Australia’s most prominent writers, Dame Mary Gilmore and AB ‘Banjo’ Paterson.
The Reserve Bank said keeping the same look was done for ‘ease of recognition and to minimise the disruption to businesses’, with the notes entering circulation on September 20.
Existing $10 notes can still be used, and all previously issued banknotes remain legal tender.
Famous Australian writers Dame Mary Gilmore and AB Paterson will still feature on the note
The first batch of the new $10 notes flooded into circulation on September 20