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ABC News
42 minutes ago
- ABC News
Reserve Bank moves to end debit and credit card surcharges and cap fees for businesses
The Reserve Bank wants to end debit and credit card surcharges in Australia in a move it says would save consumers $1.2 billion each year. Under the central bank's proposal, the eftpos, Visa and Mastercard networks would be allowed to ban surcharges — something the RBA currently prohibits. An RBA review found the current system was outdated and no longer achieving its aim of steering consumers towards more efficient payment methods as cash usage declined. "Our goal is a more competitive, efficient and safe payments system for everyone," RBA governor Michele Bullock said. The changes would fall under the central bank's existing powers and not need the government to pass legislation. However, the RBA noted the government could ban surcharges in the future if they managed to linger. Small business operators, including cafe and shop owners, have previously expressed concern about a surcharge ban, worried they will end up footing the bill and need to raise prices more broadly to cover payment costs. However, the RBA also wants to lower a cap on interchange fees paid by businesses, which would save them $1.2 billion a year and leave 90 per cent better off. The interchange fees are charged by payment service providers — for example, the major banks, Square, Tyro — to merchants, including online sellers. "The proposed reductions to interchange caps would benefit small businesses the most as they tend to pay fees closer to the existing caps," the RBA said, noting larger operators already tended to use scale to negotiate lower fees. Foreign interchange fees will also be capped to reduce costs for business accepting international cards. Late last year, the government proposed banning surcharges on debit cards from January 2026, subject to the RBA review. The RBA said the industry feedback was that it was simpler to just remove surcharges on both debit and credit cards to avoid confusion and implementation issues. There are 8 million so-called combination cards in circulation in Australia that require the user to select whether to use it as a debit or a credit card. The RBA has also proposed increasing transparency around fees by requiring card networks and payment providers to publish their wholesale fees. "Transparency from these providers will help businesses find the best deals and encourage competition," Ms Bullock said. Submissions to the review highlighted the increasing complexity of fees, which providers would also need to work with industry to simplify. There will be six weeks of consultation following this release, with a final paper wrapping up the review expected by the end of this year. American Express does not fall under the RBA's remit due to its structure so will not be covered by the proposed changes, but the RBA says it could choose to ban surcharging also.
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Despair over owl deaths as regulator in fourth year of rat bait review
Councils across Western Australia have joined animal welfare groups in a campaign to reduce the use of common rat and mouse baits, citing the devastating impact on native birds and animals. Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs), such as ratsak, are readily available on supermarket shelves and are a common option for people targeting rat and mouse infestations. But the poisons have a devastating effect on native birds, including owls, that receive lethal or crippling doses when they consume already-poisoned rodents. The national chemical regulator, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), has been reviewing the availability of the poisons since 2021, with an outcome expected in weeks. But wildlife advocates say the daily impact on wildlife shows the review has not proceeded quickly enough. The poisons have killed at least 60 owls in and around WA's South West in recent months. Capes Raptor Centre rehabilitation coordinator Anne-Marie Orkasalo said the baits caused long and painful deaths. "It essentially stops the blood clotting so the animal keeps on bleeding, and of course, that's a very long process," she said. Owl researcher Boyd Wykes established Owl Friendly Margaret River in 2018 to raise awareness of the damage that toxic rat baits caused. Dr Wykes said he believed properly regulating baits would expose the full scope of their impact. "These things are being sold at supermarkets and hardware stores, and if [everyone has] got a rat or a mouse problem, the first thing they're doing is going and buying these rat poisons," he said. "We think it's across a broad range of wildlife, and we think once we control these things, we'll see a resurgence in a whole lot of wildlife. "I think we're going to find rodenticides were just a hidden problem having a huge impact." The slow-moving nature of the review has led several local governments to reduce their use of baits ahead of the APVMA's ruling. The Shire of Augusta-Margaret River was one of the first, ending its use of SGARs in 2020. Chief executive Andrea Selvey said concerned citizens fuelled the move and the shire was now working to educate residents on alternative options. "Some initiatives are very simple: how we manage our waste, our rubbish, compost making sure it's secure and not accessible by rodents," she said. "Some community members have installed owl roosting boxes to encourage owls on their property, and they become part of the rodent control measures." The APVMA started its chemical review of SGARs in 2021 and assessment phase in February 2022. The assessment had a statutory time frame of 26 months for completion, which lapsed in mid-2024, and its drafted decision is several months overdue. In a statement to the ABC, an APVMA spokesperson said it had revised its predicted publication date due to "complex scientific assessments" and consideration of legislative options. "The APVMA is currently finalising the documents for our proposed regulatory decision for the anticoagulant rodenticides review," the spokesperson said. "We expect to publish this in the coming weeks, which will start a three-month public consultation period."
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Brighton mansion with Block-designed pool asks $8.25m
A luxury French Provincial mansion just steps from Brighton's Bathing Boxes has hit the market with a price tag of up to $8.25m. The grand five-bedroom home at 29 Tennyson St is turning heads in one of Brighton's most tightly held pockets. The lavish property features a full suite of lifestyle extras including a home cinema, wine room, lift and six-car garage. Listed with Buxton Brighton director Andrew Campbell, the property spans about 80sq m across three lift-connected levels, with hydronically heated marble floors, bespoke ironwork, designer lighting and a landscaped pool zone from The Block star Dave Franklin. First look: Melb's $80m village unveiled Mr Campbell said the home's level of craftsmanship was among the best he'd seen in 15 years selling in the area. 'You walk through the door and instantly know, this is bulletproof,' Mr Campbell said. 'It's solid, timeless, and immaculately built. 'Honestly, you'd think it was completed yesterday.' Constructed about a decade ago, the chateau-style residence also features a formal dining room with bar, a Lacanche kitchen with Miele-equipped butler's pantry, multiple fireplaces and a vast master suite with dressing room, French limestone gas fireplace and spa ensuite. The property's lower-ground level includes a home theatre, wet bar, wine room and gym, all with direct lift access from the six-car basement. Mr Campbell said the home's location in the beachside cul-de-sac between Tennyson and Cannan streets placed it 'in an even better lifestyle pocket than the Golden Mile'. 'It's 100m to the Bathing Boxes, and you've got both Church St and Were St precincts within walking distance,' he said. 'There's a real lifestyle aspect here that prestige buyers are connecting with.' The campaign follows the recent $9.1m sale of Rathgar, a five-bedroom estate just down the road at 24 Tennyson St, a result The Buxton Brighton director said had reignited momentum in the suburbs top end. 'We've got interest from Paris, Noosa, and high-net-worth buyers in China,' Mr Campbell said. There's global attention on Brighton again, and that gives confidence to local buyers as well.' Despite its 650sq m block, the home's clever three-level design allows for expansive living without feeling oversized. 'That balance of luxury and liveability is rare,' Mr Campbell said. 'It's the kind of home that doesn't change hands often, the vendor's had it for a decade, and that longevity says a lot about how well it lives.' Mr Campbell said he'd pursued the listing for several years, having long admired the property's quality and position. 'I followed up with the vendor for close to four years. I always believed it had a special story, and I wanted the chance to represent it properly when the time came,' he said. He added that prestige buyers in the $5m-plus range were less affected by interest rate fluctuations, instead prioritising privacy, lock-and-leave convenience and lifestyle features. 'At this level, it's not about lending, it's about lifestyle,' he said. 'This home nails that brief.' The home is listed for private sale with $7.5m-$8.25m price hopes.
