Using Pictures of Australian Paper Money

Legally Using Illustrations of Paper Currency in Australia

Representations of Australian currency must not be misleading, that is, they must be done in such a way that the reproduction cannot be mistook for actual currency. You do not need permission to use illustrations if they cannot be mistaken for actual currency, however, it is up to you to ensure that the images are not misleading and you assume all risks if the reproduction is later deemed to be misleading. You must also take care to properly secure or dispose of any items used in the creation of your piece that could be misused such photocopies, photographic negatives and positives, and scanned images stored on optical disks, or graphics files.

EXTRACT FROM CRIMES (CURRENCY) ACT 1981

19.(1) A person shall not, without the consent, in writing, of an authorised person, design, make, print or distribute:

(a) a business or professional card, notice, placard, circular, hand-bill, poster or other material that so resembles current paper money or an Australian prescribed security as to be capable of misleading a person into believing it is that current paper money or that Australian prescribed security; or

(b) a newspaper, journal, magazine, notice, placard, circular, hand-bill, poster, business or professional card or other material that includes a representation of current paper money or an Australian prescribed security that is, when detached from the newspaper, journal, magazine, notice, placard, circular, hand-bill, poster, business or professional card or other material in which it is included, capable of misleading a person into believing that it is that current paper money or that Australian prescribed security.

Reference: http://www.rba.gov.au/Currency/LegalFramework/representation.html

The information on this page is based on information presented on the government Web site referenced above at the time this article was placed online. Check the site (http://www.rba.gov.au/) for updates and changes to the law prior to relying on the information presented here.