Chalmers’ credit card back-down unedifying and concerning

October 9, 2026 — 7:30pm

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Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ intervention to temporarily halt the Australian Taxation Office’s controversial banning of credit card payments to help small businesses is management of a crisis of the Albanese government’s own making.

Chalmers is to allocate additional funds to the ATO after the ban – set to come into effect on November 30 – came under heavy criticism from the business community, opposition parties and some Labor backbenchers. “We’ve stepped in to ensure that the tax office can take credit card payments until the end of June next year,” Chalmers said. “This will give them the time to........

© The Sydney Morning Herald