RBA Panel Tackles Cultural Sensitivity in New $5 Note Design

The Reserve Bank of Australia is working on a new $5 note to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. A panel, known as the Imagery Selection Panel, has been formed to guide this project. The panel consists of RBA officials, representatives from Note Printing Australia, and prominent First Nations community members.

The inclusion of First Nations voices on the panel is significant because it acknowledges that decisions affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should involve those peoples directly.

The panel has already chosen a theme for the new note: 'Connection to Country', which was selected from over 2,100 public submissions. This theme reflects the deep connection between land, waters, sky, relationships, knowledge, and responsibilities in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.