Second Reading Speech
Dr LEIGH (Fenner - Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury and Assistant Minister for Employment)I move:
That this bill be now read a second time.
This bill is part of a package of three bills which together will formalise longstanding Commonwealth practice by providing express, modernised and consistent legislative authority for Commonwealth entities to continue to charge and collect payment surcharges where the entity has the legislative authority to collect a payment.
This bill makes consequential amendments to support the Commonwealth Entities (Payment Surcharges) Bill 2024.
The bill also authorises the collection of surcharges by Commonwealth entities from 1 January 2003 to align with when the Reserve Bank of Australia first regulated payment surcharging as part of the then broader payments reforms.
Full details of the measure are contained in the explanatory memorandum.
Debate adjourned.