During which period did the cash rate fall to 3.5%?

The cash rate fell to 3.5% during the period of 2011-12 as part of the Reserve Bank of Australia's monetary policy response to economic conditions at that time. Following the global financial crisis in 2008, the RBA reduced the cash rate significantly to stimulate economic activity as Australia faced slower growth and lower inflation. By late 2011, the cash rate reached 3.5%, reflecting efforts to support the economy amid ongoing uncertainties in global markets and domestic challenges.

The other periods mentioned do not correspond to the cash rate dipping to 3.5%. The early 90s were marked by high-interest rates in response to inflationary pressures, and the mid-90s and mid-2000s also did not feature a cash rate at that level, as rates during those times either rose in response to economic conditions or remained higher than 3.5%.