2016-04-13 Wed

The design of the new Australian $5 banknote including new security features to prevent counterfeiting has been revealed. They will be circulated from 1st September, 2016.

The first $5 Australian banknote was issued in 1967 featuring Sir Joseph Banks and Caroline Chisholm. The obverse of the current $5 banknote features an image of Queen Elizabeth II. The reverse shows the old and new Parliament Houses, opened in 1927 and 1988 respectively.

Innovative new security features have been incorporated in the new designs to curb counterfeiting activities after a lot of research and consultation with subject matter experts. The notes have a unique top-to-bottom window. Key aspects of the design like the colour, size, and people portrayed remain the same to avoid confusion. The new "tactile" is incorporated for the vision-impaired community. The $5 banknote features the Prickly Moses Wattle and the Eastern Spinebill.

The current series of banknotes can be used even after the new notes are released.