The federal opposition leader has made a rare appearance alongside a state counterpart to demand clarity over credit card payment options for government agencies.
Making their first public appearance together in Melbourne on Thursday, Victorian Opposition Leader Jess Wilson and federal counterpart Angus Taylor demanded guarantees federal and state agencies would not impose the credit card payment bans recently earmarked by the Australian Tax Office.
Mr Taylor and Ms Wilson have each written to the prime minister and premier asking for clarification that other agencies, such as Victoria's State Revenue Office, will not move to ban credit card payments.
"It's time for the prime minister to step in, scrap the ban on credit cards from the ATO ... but also make clear that no other agency is going to do the same thing," Mr Taylor said.
"We need to give a fair go to small businesses in Victoria and right across the country."
The federal tax office received a widespread backlash from small businesses earlier in October after revealing it would stop accepting credit card payments by December in response to a surcharge ban by the Reserve Bank.
Government intervention saw the policy's roll out delayed to June 30, 2027.
"The transition period, as it turned out from stakeholder feedback, wasn't enough, and so that's where the government stepped in," Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino said.
There has been no indication Victoria's revenue office, which collects payments for a range of state levies such as land tax and payroll tax, will stop accepting credit card payments.
The office in September stopped credit card surcharges in accordance with the Reserve Bank's decision, and says credit card costs will be funded internally moving forward.
However, Ms Wilson said she did not trust Labor's stance, arguing Victorian businesses had endured a pile on of tax increases and additional charges under Labor.
"We want to make sure that small businesses, that they are not going to see what they've seen at a federal level from'' the State Revenue Office, Ms Wilson said.
"I simply do not trust Labor when it comes to backing small businesses."
Victorian Treasurer Colin Brooks rubbished the Liberal Party's calls as fake news, stating the state government has not and will not restrict credit card payments following the federal government changes.
"There are no changes to how people can use credit cards with the State Revenue Office in Victoria - and there never will be under Labor," he said.
"Instead of dreaming up problems that don't exist, Jess Wilson should start explaining how she's going to pay for her $40 billion cuts plan with One Nation."
