The Reserve Bank of Australia on Tuesday issued a new Australian 5-dollar bank note with tactile features to assist the visually impaired while enhancing the prevention of counterfeit notes.
"Each bank note in the new series will depict a different species of Australian wattle and a native bird within a number of the elements," said Reserve Bank Governor Glenn Stevens in a statement published on the bank's website. He was referring to a series of creative new security measures the bank has devised to protect the Australian currency from fraud.
The colourful new 5-dollar note features an upgraded photo of Queen Elizabeth II, the bright yellow flowers of prickly moses wattles and the beloved Eastern Spinebill bird found in the southeastern part of the country, EFE news reported.
Public reviews of the new bill have so far not been positive, with media and citizens taking to Twitter to voice their discontent.
"I'm beyond despair," tweeted Melbourne local Scott Henderson, while Sydney resident Signa Dean said the yellow prickly moses wattles resembled E. coli bacteria.
The new note will go into circulation starting on September 1.