Expert: Frank Denison - 10/6/2007

Question
Im wondering if you can settle an argument.
I am positive somewhere i have read or i have been told that Australian bank notes are waterproof because of the surfing community in Oz. Before the waterproof notes the surfers used to leave the money in pockets, bags, wallets etc etc on the beach and whilst out to sea surfing the money would be stolen. Because of this they wrote to the government to change the way the notes are so they would stop being stolen? Can you tell me if this is true?

Answer
G'day Damien,
            You are correct in that Australian notes are waterproof. Money and bags did get stolen on the beach, and in fact still does. I am sure though, that the notes were changed to make it harder to counterfeit. There is a clear plastic window on the note which has a symbol which is very hard to copy. I have not heard about surfers writing to the Government though.

Regards,
Frank