Sam Dastyari (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senators Madigan, Leyonhjelm, Lazarus, Lambie, Xenophon and Whish-Wilson, move:

That the following matter be referred to the Economics References Committee for inquiry and report by 24 November 2015:

The economic effect of matters including the difference between cash rates and credit card interest rates, with particular reference to:

(a) the Reserve Bank of Australia’s cash rate announcement and associated changes in credit card interest rates;

(b) the costs to banks, credit providers, and payments systems, including those related to:

(i) borrowings,

(ii) credit risk and default rates, and credit risk pricing,

(iii) various credit card loyalty programs, and

(iv) consumer protection measures, including reforms introduced following the global financial crisis,

(c) transaction costs, including interchange fees, on the payments industry;

(d) the costs to consumers, including those related to:

(i) how and when interest is applied,

(ii) minimum monthly payment levels,

(iii) various credit card loyalty programs of other users, and

(iv) card fees, including ATM and POS fees;

(e) what impact competition and price signals have on the credit card market;

(f) how the enforcement of responsible lending laws and the national consumer credit regime affect consumer costs;

(g) how consumer choice of credit card products can be improved, with reference to practices in other jurisdictions; and

(h) any other related matters.

Question agreed to.