Government

News about government contracts and decisions in the payments space

Government

INIT and Trapeze big winners in $820m Opal 2.0 upgrade deal

Apr 29, 2026

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INIT and Trapeze big winners in $820m Opal 2.0 upgrade deal

NSW commuters will see enhanced services, a new Opal app and the rollout of 25,000 new readers, under a $820m deal announced by the NSW Government yesterday. Officials compared the upgrade to replacing tech from “the start of the century such as the Blu-Ray Player and the first Blackberry”.

A2A

Why the Government won’t move to NPP except in emergencies

Apr 22, 2026

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Why the Government won’t move to NPP except in emergencies

The Reserve Bank has told a Parliamentary Inquiry why Government agencies aren’t moving to the New Payments Platform except in emergency situations - and it’s still all about bulk payments, reach, resilience and cost.

Regulation

Citizens left holding the bill as the government undermines its payments reform agenda

Apr 8, 2026

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Citizens left holding the bill as the government undermines its payments reform agenda

As Canberra bans surcharges in October, a glaring loophole has been left open that hands NAB the country's biggest commercial card windfall. Taxpayers will be forced to cover the cost of expensive corporate credit cards used to pay for government services, while public servants will inflict pain on small businesses every time they open their wallets, forcing up prices.

Regulation

NZ blocks surcharge ban, UK prioritises "tackling high card fees"

Apr 1, 2026

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NZ blocks surcharge ban, UK prioritises "tackling high card fees"

Australia's Reserve Bank will ban business from surcharging the cost of card transactions from October 1, all whilst the rest of the world grapples with reducing the impact of high merchant fees on small businesses.

Government

Coinbase asks Senate for more on debanking

Mar 25, 2026

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Coinbase asks Senate for more on debanking

As the government looks to introduce the Digital Assets Framework Bill to regulate crypto currencies in Australia, Coinbase remains concerned about the lack of a substantive solution when it comes to debanking.

Government

Express Transit mobile confusion as Victorian myki tap trial kicks in

Mar 25, 2026

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Express Transit mobile confusion as Victorian myki tap trial kicks in

Easy access mobile payments for transit may be responsible for Victorian commuters accidently paying for fares twice.

Fintech

Consultation looks at PSPs, ePayments Code powers and unclaimed funds

Mar 18, 2026

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Consultation looks at PSPs, ePayments Code powers and unclaimed funds

Treasury has launched a consultation on new legislation for payments service providers (PSPs), including power to make rules for a mandatory and revised ePayments Code and new controls for unclaimed monies.

Digital & Online

Europe aims for payments sovereignty in break from US networks

Feb 18, 2026

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Europe aims for payments sovereignty in break from US networks

In an increasingly uncertain global economy, Europe is rushing the rollout of a ubiquitous payments capability free from US and other foreign networks.

Digital & Online

Small business unites against card scheme "margin grab"

Feb 18, 2026

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Small business unites against card scheme "margin grab"

Ahead of hearings next week, 24 submissions - and counting - have been published by the parliamentary inquiry, with banks joining business in fingering card schemes as a major problem.

Government

Victoria’s $1.7B late open loop transport finally ... in testing!

Jan 28, 2026

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Victoria’s $1.7B late open loop transport finally ... in testing!

After three long years, delays, overruns and a $1.7 billion spend, Victorians are finally a step closer to “testing” their credit and debit cards on public transport – but it’s going to a be a slow rollout.

Merchant Service Fees

Credit card companies face Canberra scrutiny in early 2026 as Trump calls for US interest rate cap

Jan 14, 2026

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Credit card companies face Canberra scrutiny in early 2026 as Trump calls for US interest rate cap

As the Australian Parliament readies for its first inquiry into credit cards in over a decade, US President Donald Trump has called for a one-year cap on credit card interest rates at 10 per cent.

Digital & Online

Revenue NSW serves up irrelevant personal data in unclaimed money search

Jan 7, 2026

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Revenue NSW serves up irrelevant personal data in unclaimed money search

Revenue NSW is handing out buckets of personal information to complete strangers when citizens search for unclaimed cheques, dividends and other money.

Cash

+12

Massive year in payments but 2026 looms even larger

Dec 17, 2025

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Massive year in payments but 2026 looms even larger

There will be little rest for the payments industry this summer, as businesses, regulators and lawmakers get ready for a raft of big changes in the New Year. In the final edition of PayDay News for 2025, we look at the big changes this year, and what to expect in 2026.

Government

Ciggies cheaper than ‘90s, as payments industry dawdles and ABS commits to collect data

Dec 10, 2025

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Ciggies cheaper than ‘90s, as payments industry dawdles and ABS commits to collect data

Despite promises from the payments industry to crack down on illicit tobacco sellers, punters can still use their cards to purchase a packet of illegal cigarettes, cheaper today than they were more than a quarter of century ago when Paul Keating was PM and Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit topped Australia’s Hot 100.

Digital & Online

Credit card schemes face parliamentary inquiry as revolving debt hits 4 year high

Dec 10, 2025

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Credit card schemes face parliamentary inquiry as revolving debt hits 4 year high

Credit card companies Visa and Mastercard will join digital wallet providers Apple Pay and Google Pay to front a new parliamentary inquiry in 2026, as Australia’s revolving credit card debt and online spending soars to new highs.

Regulation

ANZ joins tobacco fight as AUSTRAC presses remitters on child exploitation payments

Nov 26, 2025

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ANZ joins tobacco fight as AUSTRAC presses remitters on child exploitation payments

ANZ, like its peers and PSPs, has not revealed how many illicit tobacco merchants have been cut off, as AUSTRAC orders an audit of WorldRemit for child exploitation payments and targets others.

Merchant Service Fees

Big banks urge RBA to test scheme fee regulation and broaden cards inquiry

Nov 19, 2025

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Big banks urge RBA to test scheme fee regulation and broaden cards inquiry

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) should not be deterred from regulating the scheme fees charged by Visa and Mastercard because of the possibility of litigation, according to Commonwealth Bank CEO Matt Comyn.

Merchant Service Fees

Westpac confirms interchange pays for its credit card rewards

Nov 19, 2025

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Westpac confirms interchange pays for its credit card rewards

Westpac CEO, Anthony Miller told the Standing Committee on Economics yesterday that rewards are funded by interchange fees, despite the Reserve Bank ruling them an ineligible interchange cost.

Regulation

Focus on new BECS timeline as Mulino makes payments debut

Nov 12, 2025

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Focus on new BECS timeline as Mulino makes payments debut

A revised closure timeline for the Bulk Electronic Clearing System (BECS) will be front and centre when the new Financial Services Minister Daniel Mulino talks publicly on payments strategy for the first time in Sydney next month.

Merchant Service Fees

NZ surcharge ban will create an “uneven playing field” with online excluded

Nov 12, 2025

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NZ surcharge ban will create an “uneven playing field” with online excluded

Feedback has now closed on the Retail Payment System (Ban on Merchant Surcharges) Amendment Bill introduced to New Zealand Parliament on September 16 and groups have voiced their concerns about the impact on businesses and consumers.

Fintech

CDR & Digital ID could take the pain out of rental applications

Oct 29, 2025

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CDR & Digital ID could take the pain out of rental applications

The soul crushing process of filling in piles of detailed rental applications could get a whole lot easier with the clever application of technologies like Digital ID and the Consumer Data Right (CDR), according to Sydney payments outfits Fat Zebra and AP+.

Government

Oct 22, 2025

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Crypto ATM crackdown

The government has announced it's drafting legislation to target a crackdown on crypto ATMs that may see the machines, which buy cash to sell crypto currency, restricted or banned.

Fintech

Payments companies from CBA to Westpac to ANZ Worldline may be enabling criminal gangs with illegal tobacco sales

Oct 22, 2025

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Payments companies from CBA to Westpac to ANZ Worldline may be enabling criminal gangs with illegal tobacco sales

“Our message is clear: if you profit from illicit tobacco in Australia, you are operating illegally,” says Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke.

Merchant Service Fees

Impact of surcharge reform on government services uncertain as rego prices rise

Oct 15, 2025

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Impact of surcharge reform on government services uncertain as rego prices rise

There’s uncertainty about how governments will recoup the cost of banning card surcharges, as NSW bumps up its annual fees by more than CPI and Queensland cuts American Express as payment option for transport this week.

Digital & Online

Australia moves to build crypto guardrails as payments integration accelerates

Oct 1, 2025

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Australia moves to build crypto guardrails as payments integration accelerates

The government has released draft laws to license exchanges and issuers, ASIC has granted temporary relief for stablecoin distribution, and global players from PayPal to IG Group are reshaping Australia’s crypto payments landscape.