“No tip, thanks”
Half of Baby Boomers say tipping has no place in Australia—and Gen X isn’t far behind.
New research from Money.com.au reveals Australians still aren’t buying into tipping culture and say it has no place in Australia.
The nationally representative survey of more than 1000 Australians asked how they feel when prompted to tip at cafés, restaurants or bars—whether through QR code checkout, card payment terminals, or when presented with a bill.
Nearly half of Australians (43 percent) refuse to tip at hospitality venues even when prompted, saying it’s ‘not part of Australian culture.’ Meanwhile, 18 percent feel uncomfortable about being asked to leave a tip but will do it if they feel pressured.
On the other hand, 29 percent of Aussies say they don’t mind tipping depending on the occasion, while 7 percent said they like it as a way to reward good service, and 4 percent say they always tip because hospitality staff deserve extra pay.
Money.com.au’s Finance Expert, Sean Callery, says Aussies are resisting the shift toward US-style tipping, particularly when it feels more like an obligation than a genuine choice to reward good service.
“Tipping might be the norm in places like the U.S., but Aussies aren’t buying into it — even though more venues are adding tip prompts of 15–20 percent at checkout. It feels automated and forced. Most Australians expect hospitality staff to be paid fairly by their employer for providing a service, not subsidised by the customer,” he says.
Older Australians refuse to tip — Millennials are the most generous
The survey found that Baby Boomers are the most opposed to tipping, with 50 percent saying they refuse to do it because it has no place in Australia.
Gen X weren’t far behind at 40 percent, but they’re also the most likely generation to tip if they feel pressured — at 22 percent.
A third of Gen Z (33 percent) say they don’t mind tipping and are happy to do it, if the service is good — more than any other age group.
Millennials are the most tip-friendly overall, with 15 percent saying they always support tipping, either because they believe it’s a nice way to reward good service or because hospitality staff deserve extra pay.
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