The Albanese government has pledged to crack down on surcharges paid by Australians using debit cards, as the PM and Treasurer Jim Chalmers signal they will directly intervene in the financial system to push down costs imposed on retailers and their customers.
Speaking about the policy on Nine’s Today, Housing Minister Clare O’Neil said the charges were “downright unfair and excessive”.
“We’re really cracking down on this,” O’Neil said, promising the announcement wasn’t just a “thought bubble”.
“You wouldn’t believe this, but Australians are paying $4 billion a year in charges such as this one, and we think it’s time for it to go.”
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Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie, who was also speaking on the Today panel, said that while “everyone hates surcharges” the move amounted to “fiddling around the edges while Rome burns”.
McKenzie suggested that the move would protect banks, Visa and Mastercard while passing on the cost to small businesses.
O’Neil hit back at McKenzie’s claim, pointing to Today’s earlier guest, a spokesperson for the small business lobby, who said the group is “super supportive of this change”.
“They don’t want to charge their customers for effectively paying by credit card or debit card, which is what most of us are using these days,” O’Neil said.
“Despite some of what Bridget said there, this is a really good thing. I think most Aussies are sick of paying these charges and that’s why our government wants to put us. I don’t see a problem with it.”
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