ATO could have done better on credit card ban, Mulino says
Sarah Basford Canales
The assistant treasurer, Daniel Mulino, says the tax office was dealing with a “complex” problem when deciding how to address the ban on credit card payment surcharges but, with the benefit of hindsight, it could have done better.
Speaking on ABC’s Radio National this morning, Mulino said the tax commissioner, Rob Heferen, said the reforms were really important and the Australian Taxation Office had been concurrently trying to negotiate with credit card companies while determining an adequate transition period.
The ATO stopped accepting credit card payments after the ban came into effect at the beginning of October. Heferen previously warned it would cost the ATO about $200m a year if it could not pass on the banking and credit card fees on to customers.
The ATO will now extend accept credit card payments for an extended transition period until the end of June next year.
Overnight, Heferen told a Senate estimates hearing he first realised the Reserve Bank’s surcharge ban would be a “real issue to grapple with” back in April.
The tax boss said he had received a letter from Mulino on 28 April informing the tax office of the RBA’s reforms, which brought the proposal to a “sharp head”.
Heferen told the hearing:
If we accept credit cards, it needs to be funded, and ceasing credit cards will have an effect on people who use credit cards. And some of our discussion was, ‘OK, what’s the appropriate transition for people up to transition through?’ And so that awareness, fair to say, around June, July [2026], we had staff before that who were already thinking about the issue, already formulating proposals.
Key events
Josh Butler
Cross-parliamentary women’s network launches, inspired by Haines
Female politicians across federal parliament will launch a women’s network, to build stronger connections across parties in the wake of the alleged attack on Helen Haines, and encourage more women into politics.
Finance minister Katy Gallagher, shadow minister Melissa McIntosh, Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young and independent MP Rebekha Sharkie announced the establishment of the Network of Women in Parliament (NOW) this morning.
“Our purpose of NOW is to build connections, strengthen relationships and create an environment where women in Parliament can share experiences, support one another and learn from each other beyond political lines,” they said in a joint statement.
While Labor has internal women’s groups, female MPs from other parties have told Guardian Australia they’ve struggled to establish similar networks of their own due to smaller numbers.
The statement launching NOW said the group came amid “a growing recognition of the value of stronger connections between women in Parliament.”
The MPs said:
The devastating [alleged] attack on our parliamentary colleague Helen Haines has further highlighted the importance of coming together in support, solidarity and friendship across political divides.
Helen has always demonstrated the importance of kindness, compassion and genuine connection across political divides. In many ways, she embodies the very spirit of what NOW hopes to achieve.
We recognise that while our political views may differ, we share many of the same experiences, challenges and responsibilities as women in public life. Through friendship, trust and solidarity, we want to strengthen the voice of women in Parliament, encourage more Australian women into public life and stand together when it matters.
Tom McIlroy
Helen Haines’ offices to reopen
As Indi MP, Helen Haines, continues to recover in hospital, her staff are preparing to reopen her electorate offices in Wangaratta and Wodonga. They will be open from 10am to 3pm, three days a week between now and the end of the year.
“Thank you to everyone who continues to show such care and support for Helen, her family and our team,” Haines’ team said in a statement on Thursday.
We know there continues to be great concern for Helen. We won’t be providing updates on her health or circumstances, and we ask that the privacy of Helen and her family continues to be respected.
Thank you for your patience, kindness and understanding as we navigate the weeks ahead.
Haines has lost both of her legs as a result of last week’s alleged attack in Wangaratta. A 43-year-old man has been charged and the incident continues to be investigated by police.
Darwin teenager to face court on charges of collecting documents likely to facilitate a terrorist act
Nick Visser
An update from the AFP as the prime minister urges the Senate to pass his government’s latest social media reforms.
A teenager in Darwin is set to appear in children’s court today over charges of collecting documents likely to facilitate a terrorist act, as well as schematics for 3D-printed guns.
The Australian federal police said officials began an investigation earlier this month. They allege the teenager was the operator of several social media channels that accessed, discussed or reposted violent extremist material.
A search warrant was undertaken on Wednesday, where officials allegedly found documents and electronic devices that contained violent extremist material and instructions for the making of 3D-printed firearms.
The teenager faces several charges, which carry a maximum sentence of between five and 10 years’ imprisonment each.
Lisa Cox
NSW government says it’s not ‘sitting back and waiting for rain’ at Menindee
The NSW water minister, Rose Jackson, says “no one is underestimating the challenge at Menindee this summer” after water volumes at the Menindee Lakes fell to their lowest point in five years.
As we have reported this morning, experts have warned that unless conditions improve there is potential for fish kills in the region that suffered millions of fish deaths in 2018, 2019 and 2023.
Jackson says:
No one is underestimating the challenge at Menindee this summer, with lake levels now at their lowest point in five years and the prospect of another hot summer.
Our focus is on doing everything we can to protect water quality and native fish through the months ahead.
Significant inflows would improve conditions but we aren’t sitting back and waiting for rain.
Temporary restrictions are in place for some upstream water users. Jackson says the government has also installed a temporary fish passage to allow for better movement of native fish.
ATO could have done better on credit card ban, Mulino says
Sarah Basford Canales
The assistant treasurer, Daniel Mulino, says the tax office was dealing with a “complex” problem when deciding how to address the ban on credit card payment surcharges but, with the benefit of hindsight, it could have done better.
Speaking on ABC’s Radio National this morning, Mulino said the tax commissioner, Rob Heferen, said the reforms were really important and the Australian Taxation Office had been concurrently trying to negotiate with credit card companies while determining an adequate transition period.
The ATO stopped accepting credit card payments after the ban came into effect at the beginning of October. Heferen previously warned it would cost the ATO about $200m a year if it could not pass on the banking and credit card fees on to customers.
The ATO will now extend accept credit card payments for an extended transition period until the end of June next year.
Overnight, Heferen told a Senate estimates hearing he first realised the Reserve Bank’s surcharge ban would be a “real issue to grapple with” back in April.
The tax boss said he had received a letter from Mulino on 28 April informing the tax office of the RBA’s reforms, which brought the proposal to a “sharp head”.
Heferen told the hearing:
If we accept credit cards, it needs to be funded, and ceasing credit cards will have an effect on people who use credit cards. And some of our discussion was, ‘OK, what’s the appropriate transition for people up to transition through?’ And so that awareness, fair to say, around June, July [2026], we had staff before that who were already thinking about the issue, already formulating proposals.
Taylor says country needs to get ‘balance right’ on datacentres
Angus Taylor, the opposition leader, said the country needs to get the “balance right” on AI, but powering datacentres with renewables only would not deliver for Australians.
Taylor spoke to reporters earlier, saying the debate around datacentres was “pretty commonsense”.
It’s like gas, you’ve got to get the balance right. And the balance is, put them in the right locations where there’s community support, and there will be locations with community support.
Critically, make sure you’ve got the energy you need. So these datacentres are not going to drive up the cost of energy for Australians.
I tell you, a renewables-only strategy is not going to deliver on this.
Man cautioned after allegedly stalking two SA members of parliament
A man who allegedly targeted two South Australian member of parliament has been cautioned.
SA police issued stalking cautions to the 44-year-old man on Tuesday afternoon and said the cautions related to separate alleged incidents involving two MPs that were not connected.
He was also arrested for a separate alleged breach of bail.
The state’s education minister, Lucy Hood, and another Labor MP, Ella Shaw, spoke about their alleged experiences during a press conference on Wednesday.
Shaw alleged she was involved in an incident in her community while working and said she made the report because she didn’t want “any young person in my electorate to feel the way I was made to feel”.
The education minister said it was “frustrating and unfortunate”, telling reporters:
It is a sad occurrence that the political discourse has moved to such a level that we see young women in our parliament who are having to put up with this behaviour.
Albanese dismisses economic criticism from ‘partisan participant’ Peter Costello
The PM is asked about criticism of the government’s handling of economic issues from former Liberal treasurer Peter Costello, who served under John Howard.
In response, Anthony Albanese offers a prediction for the next election in 2028:
Peter Costello is a partisan participant. He’s not an observer. He’s not a commentator. I quite like Peter.
I’ll make this prediction: when the election’s on in 2028, there’ll be a splash in a broadsheet which is ‘Howard condemns Albanese government’ – wait for it.
Inflation rise part of ‘global uplift’: Albanese
Anthony Albanese has once again pointed to international affairs when pushed on cost pressures faced by ordinary Australians.
He says:
Some of these pressures are global, which is why we’re seeing that global uplift in inflation, and we’re not immune from that impact.
It’s one of the reasons why we have continued to call for a de-escalation in conflict in the Middle East, because it is having an impact here.
PM insists government is addressing the cost of living
Following yesterday’s latest inflation figures, the prime minister has maintained his government is bringing down the cost of living.
Anthony Albanese points to his government’s budget surpluses and other measures that “ensure that any cost-of-living measures are ones that not just provide help for people today, but build a stronger tomorrow”.
‘Nativist’ opposition to EU trade deal not in national interest: Albanese
Opposition to the EU free trade deal is “an excuse for going down the road of protectionist and nativist politics”, Anthony Albanese says.
He told reporters:
Nativist politics is not in Australia’s national interest. We are a trading nation. We are an island continent in which economic growth and productivity is boosted by engaging with the world.
PM says Coalition’s fair trade credentials will be ‘shredded’ if EU deal support withheld
The Coalition’s support for free and fair trade will be undermined unless it supports the government’s deal with the EU, the prime minister has said.
For people who say they belong to a political party that supports markets and supports free and fair trade – that will be completely undermined and shredded unless they support this legislation.
PM talks up EU free trade deal amid scrutiny
The Australia-European Union free trade agreement has come under the spotlight this sitting week.
Anthony Albanese says it would boost the economy and benefit areas like critical minerals, fruit and vegetable production, and the wine industry.
But it has been under discussion for years and continues to face roadblocks due to concerns from farmers.
