Senate Economics Legislation Committee [Part 2], , 1:43:22 to 1:47:42
Discussion on the timeline and consultation process regarding the ban on credit card surcharges and its impact on ATO operations.
Topics: Integrity, Government spending
Speakers: Rob Heferen, Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, Senator Lisa Darmanin
>> Thank goodness for that. Um, okay. So, I just want to be really clear um on um to get the timeline right. So, the government flagged it would uh look to the to ban the search charges in October 2024. And on the 30th of March 26, the RBA confirmed it would do so from the 1st of October. Um, when did the ATO first become aware that the search charge ban would have a significant financial impact for the ATO?
>> Um, it happened over a the the complete understanding of what we'd be facing emerged over a period of time. Um so from when the RBA first commenced the review of searchcharging had staff who and put out the consultation paper in 2025 we had some internal discussions about what might this mean. Um then had the conversation with the colleagues in the treasury and working through uh information that um uh you know would would uh give light to what the cost for us would be uh what the cost for the and I I think it's fair to say that after the letter from the assistant treasurer went out to all ministers on the 28th of April, that's really the point at which we honed in on the issue to say, "Okay, this is a real issue that we need to grapple with." Uh and at that time um we then formulated the the um um the options about well if we accept credit cards uh it needs to be funded uh and ceasing credit cards will have an effect on the uh on people who use credit cards. And some of our discussion was okay what's the appropriate transition for people up to uh trans transition through and so that awareness fair to say around June July we had staff before that who were already thinking about the issue already formulating proposals but I guess I'm just think from my perspective when it was um sort of raised to the senior levels of the organization probably around that June July period in 2026
>> so when okay thank just a couple more questions when did you let the treasury uh and the government know and which ministers or their officers were informed
>> so uh as I went answered before my first discussion with the assistant treasurer was on the 20th of July 2026 um and then I had a series of meeting I have a regular catch up with the assistant treasurer he's the minister responsible for the tax office uh very constructive working relationship I'm very appreciative of having as a minister uh and so we would meet monthly sometimes a little bit more regularly but a series of discussions um July, August, September and then into October about him wanting more information, us providing more information and then him formulating the the the way forward that he would then take the position we want to do so he could take to his ministerial colleagues and of ministers the assistant treasur is the only one I spoke directly with up until the point at which uh up until the announcement that we made on the 1st of October.
>> So, so not the small business minister. The small business minister wasn't informed at any time. No, I would rely
on the I sorry I I only spoke to the uh the assistant treasurer and of course his uh the treasury uh and then when it came to the point of decision-m then colleagues and obviously the colleagues in the department of finance
>> and are you able to table um the letter from the assistant minister uh treasurer sorry on the 28th of April or would you be able to table that? >> Certainly. Um and uh in your previous evidence and I think it's fair to say that after the letter from the assistant treasurer went out to all ministers on the 28th. That's really the point. So that's that's um yeah that's what I'd like to be able to get to the table if that's okay. Can I ask a couple more questions?
>> Uh I'm we are running really short on time. Um I'm going to rotate the call. I >> It's been 12 minutes. Um, and other senators have got questions. So, Senator