House debates Questions without Notice
Banking and Financial Services
Kevin Hogan Page, National Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House
3:07 pm
My question is to the Minister for Small Business. Last Friday, the Treasurer confirmed that he was informed by the ATO, not the RBA, about the credit card ban 'in the lead-up' to the decision. The minister just told the House that you became aware of the decision when it was made public. Why were you, as the minister, not aware of a decision that would harm thousands of small businesses until it was made publicly?
Amanda Rishworth Kingston, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
You are conflating two things.
Milton Dick Speaker
Order! The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, absolutely, will be warned if she continues with that behaviour.
Anne Aly Cowan, Australian Labor Party, Minister for International Development
3:08 pm
I'll just repeat my answer from last time, but I'll add a bit of clarity to it. The RBA announced their decision to ban surcharges on 31 March of this year, stating that surcharges will be banned from 1 October. On 1 October, the ATO announced their decision that they would not be accepting credit cards, and that's when I found out.