What's the deal with the Service NSW surcharge scandal?

Today in Parliament, Abigail passed a call for papers that will reveal the truth behind the recent Service NSW merchant fees scandal.

Abigail's motion reads as follows:

I move:

That, under Standing Order 52, there be laid upon the table of the House within 21 days of the date of passing of this resolution the following documents, in electronic form if possible, created between 1 April 2011 and 1 April 20233, in the possession, custody or control of the Premier's Department, the Cabinet Office, the Treasury, the Department of Customer Service, including Revenue NSW and Service NSW, or the Department of Communities and Justice relating to agency charging or recouping of merchant interchange fees or surcharge fees (howsoever described) including but not limited to:

(a) Treasury Circular TC12-13:

all documents relating to the development of Treasury Circular TC12-13;
all documents relating to the consultations undertaken prior to the approval of Treasury Circular TC12-13;
all documents relating to the approval of Treasury Circular TC12-13;
all documents relating to the publication and communication of Treasury Circular TC12-13;
all documents relating to the implementation of Treasury Circular TC12-13; and
all documents relating to post implementation compliance activities in respect of Treasury Circular TC12-13.

(b) Treasury Circular TC18-18:

all documents relating to the development of Treasury Circular TC18-18;
all documents relating to the consultations undertaken prior to the approval of Treasury Circular TC18-18;
all documents relating to the approval of Treasury Circular TC18-18;
all documents relating to the publication and communication of Treasury Circular TC18-18
all documents relating to the implementation of Treasury Circular TC18-18; and
all documents relating to compliance reviews with Treasury Circular TC18-18.

all documents from customers raising concerns or complaints about the imposition of merchant fees or surcharges; and
all documents from employees raising concerns or complaints about the imposition of merchant fees or surcharges;

(d) legal advice on merchant fees or surcharges:

instructions prepared for the purposes of obtaining legal advice in relation to the charging of merchant fees and surcharges;
all internal and external legal advice in relation to the charging of merchant fees or surcharges; and
documents relating to the consideration of the legal advice referred to in (d)(ii).

(e) briefing materials and meeting materials:

all briefing materials, provided to relevant Ministerial Offices on the charging of merchant fees and surcharges;
all briefing materials, provided of departmental executives on the charging of merchant fees;
all meeting materials prepared for the purposes of meetings with relevant Ministerial Offices on the charging of merchant fees and surcharges; and
all meeting materials prepared for the purposes of departmental meetings on the charging of merchant fees and surcharges.

(f) any legal or other advice regarding the scope or validity of this order of the House created as a result of this order of the House.

Motion agreed to.

Read the transcript in Hansard here.

12 November 2024

A UNIVERSAL WELLBEING PAYMENT FOR NSW

No matter who you are or what you do, everyone has the right to share in the wellbeing of our country.

But at the moment the essentials so many of us need – a place to call home, food on the table, and everyday essentials like electricity, internet, medicine and water – are simply out of reach.

Instead of supporting us, our government is choosing to prop up huge corporations with massive subsidies, and to give away our collective wealth through record tax cuts for the wealthy. Meanwhile, the rest of us are left to live paycheck to paycheck or trapped in the dehumanising bureaucracy of our existing welfare system.

Now, in the midst of a pandemic, and following quickly on the heels of the bushfire crisis, more of us than ever before are experiencing what it’s like to lose our jobs, be without a home, or worry about where the food for our next meal will come from.

It’s time for us to choose to prioritise the wellbeing of everyone.

And that’s exactly what the Universal Wellbeing Payment will do.

It’s a regular payment made to each of us to ensure our minimum standard of wellbeing. No means testing, no bureaucracy, no strings attached.

It’s the amount you’re owed simply for being a participant in our society.

It means you are free to live your life and contribute to society as you see fit, whether you’re a carer, an artist, a student, a parent, an entrepreneur – you can get on with what you need to do, knowing that you will always be supported regardless of your income.

It means that we’re choosing to structure our economy for the benefit of all of us, not using our collective wealth to prop up the interests of big business and the wealthy few.

It means you will always have what you need to live a good life, no matter what.

The Universal Wellbeing Payment is for everyone. Help us make it happen.

For more information, head to universalwellbeingpayment.com.au

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What's the deal with the Service NSW surcharge scandal?

A UNIVERSAL WELLBEING PAYMENT FOR NSW

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