28 Degrees has just announced a new fee.
http://www.28degreescard.com.au/faqs/cash-advance-fee.html
From the 1/1/2014 any cash withdrawal will be charged a new fee of $4 or 3% whichever is greater (capped at $30 per transaction).
This closes a loophole with the card where people loaded the card with a positive balance before travelling overseas and getting free withdrawals.
From the FAQ:
"Will I be charged a cash advance fee if my card has a positive balance?
Yes, you will still be charged a cash advance fee if you withdraw cash from your 28 Degrees MasterCard even if the card has a positive credit balance. We do not recommend that you load your card into credit as this is not the intended purpose of the card."
The fee also applies to withdrawals and cash transfers within Australia.
The new fee does not apply to regular credit purchases (in person or online)
So you can still load it up and use it as a credit card. That's fine with me as I always transfer cash here at ozforex and credit where ever it takes it.
carrying cash is no biggie as most gets left in hotel safe and take daily amounts.