Reserve Bank of Australia reveals the new AU$5 banknote (Source: RBA)

SYDNEY, Apr. 12 (People’s Daily Online) -- Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) released images of the new AU$5 banknote on the morning of April 12, 2016. It is expected to be issued into circulation from September 1, 2016.

According to the announcement of RBA, the new images will keep the key aspect of the existing design, including colour, size and people portrayed. It helps the public to recognise easily and minimises the disruption to businesses. Besides, a new ‘tactile’ feature was added, which is designed for the vision-impaired community to identify different denominations of banknotes.

Another feature of the new banknote is the security innovation. “Innovative new security features have been incorporated to help keep Australia’s banknotes secure from counterfeiting into the future. As can be seen in the images, these include a distinctive top-to-bottom window,” said the Governor of the Bank, Glenn Stevens.

The release of new AU$5 banknote design comes when the central bank is preparing for the smooth introduction of other new banknotes. It is noted that each banknote will select a different species of Australia wattle and a native bird within a number of the elements. On the AU$5 banknote, Prickly Moses wattle and the Eastern Spinebill are chosen.

Although the new banknotes will be introduced and issued in circulation, the current series can still continue to be used.

Australia is the first country who invented plastic banknote. The Bank issued AU$10 commemorative banknote in 1988 to celebrate the bicentennial of Australian settlement.