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Housing Minister Clare O'Neil expresses Labor's concern over the Australian Tax Office's (ATO) decision to stop accepting credit card payments for tax bills. O'Neil urges the ATO to reconsider and resume discussions with businesses, emphasizing that consumers should not be charged fees when using their own money. The Reserve Bank recently scrapped surcharges on credit card payments, which cost consumers $1.6 billion annually. Nationals MP Bridget McKenzie criticizes the government's stance, stating that removing surcharges does not necessarily lead to lower prices for goods and services.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) recently banned credit card payments for tax bills as of November 1, following the Reserve Bank's decision to eliminate national credit card surcharges. This move aims to save consumers about $1.6 billion annually but has faced backlash from business groups and entrepreneurs who rely on flexible payment methods. Business lobby groups convened a meeting with the ATO on October 25 after an outcry over the short notice period for this change, leaving many operators in financial difficulty. Labor’s Housing Minister Clare O'Neil expressed "real concerns" about the ATO's decision and urged the department to reconsider its stance and negotiate further with businesses. Despite criticism, the ATO has not altered its position.
Written for “ATO Credit Card Ban” on 2026-10-07,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it -0.45, but none of the 4 quote(s) it offered could be found in the article text, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 63808: no verified evidence · logged 2026-10-07
Labor has 'real concerns' over ATO's decision on credit card payments
Housing Minister Clare O'Neil says the federal government has "real concerns" about the Australian Tax Office's decision to stop accepting credit card payments for tax bills.
asserted
government → have → bills
Labor has 'real concerns' ATO's decision not to accept credit card payments:
asserted
Labor → have → payments
O'Neil
Clare O'Neil says the Australian Taxation Office's (ATO) should resume discussions with the business sector over its decision not to accept credit card payments for tax bills.
asserted
Office → say → bills
The housing minister says Labor has "real concerns" with the ATO's decision to ban credit card payments, following the Reserve Bank's decision to scrap surcharges.
asserted
Labor → say → surcharges
The ATO met with businesses groups yesterday angered by the move, but the department did not budge its decision.
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department → meet → decision
However O'Neil has defended the Reserve Bank's decision to scrap the fees which cost consumers $1.6 billion a year.
"
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which → defend → billion
We really want the ATO to go back and talk to business about what they've decided to do here, and think about how they can find a solution that works," O'Neil has told Channel Nine.
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O'Neil → want → Nine
"You should not be charged to use your own money, and businesses need to be transparent about how much they're charging for products and services.
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they → charge → products
So this is a really good change the government has made."
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government → make → ?
Nationals frontbencher Bridget McKenzie says the end of the surcharge won't make make everyday items cheaper.
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items → say → surcharge
She says the government needs to direct the ATO to accept credit card payments.
"
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government → say → payments
The prime minister promised that removing the surcharge would make coffees go down.
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coffees → promise → surcharge
It doesn't disappear.
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It → disappear → ?
Businesses are being expected to absorb it," McKenzie says.
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McKenzie → expect → it
It's great to have you join us here this Thursday morning.
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you → have → us
I'm Josh Boscaini joining you live from Parliament House in Canberra, here and ready to bring you all of today's federal politics news.
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I → join → news
Pre-COP talks in Fiji are set to wrap up today, with a push to double the number of homes globally with rooftop solar set to be main topic of discussion.
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solar → set → discussion
We'll bring you all the day's politics news as it happens right here!
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it → bring → news
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