Labor ministers contradict each other over ATO credit card surcharge ban

The Australian government is pressuring the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to reverse its decision to stop accepting credit card payments. This move comes amid growing criticism from small businesses, with the chamber of commerce calling for a "clear, consistent approach" to help business owners manage cashflow.

The ATO's ban on credit card payments follows a Reserve Bank decision to ban surcharges for credit card payments from the start of the month. The central bank estimated this change would save consumers around $1.6 billion.

The Coalition has criticised the government's handling of the issue, describing it as "all over the shop". Small businesses are demanding clarity on the issue, particularly those that rely on credit card payments to manage company tax.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Guardian Australia, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.