Australia to Eliminate Extra Fees on Card Payments Starting October

October 1, Sydney – Australia will completely eliminate additional fees charged when making payments via debit or credit cards starting next October. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that the obligation for consumers to pay extra fees when using cards will be removed. This regulation will take effect from October 1, 2026. Under the new rule, stores, cafes, and restaurants must charge the exact price displayed on the product even when payment is made by card.

Prime Minister Albanese stated on social media, “Due to card surcharges, the price you pay for your coffee shouldn’t be more than its actual price.” According to the government, starting in October, all card payments made through Visa, MasterCard, and EFTPOS networks will be prohibited from having any surcharges added. Once implemented, the government estimates that Australian consumers will collectively save approximately 1.6 billion AUD annually by avoiding these surcharges. Similarly, it is expected that small businesses will reduce their operating costs by about 91 million AUD per year. Amid rising living expenses recently, the government introduced this policy to provide some financial relief to the general public.