The Reserve Bank is about to make critical decisions about debit card fees that could ultimately cost local Australian businesses and their loyal customers!

PLEASE SIGN NOW TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES. INSIST ON FAIRER TRANSACTION FEES AND HELP KEEP COSTS DOWN.

Debit cards are now Australia’s most popular way to pay as less people use cash – amounting to around 8 billion transactions a year!

Use of these cards should be at the lowest cost for consumers and local businesses. Unfortunately, local businesses often pay higher fees than they should for debit card purchases because the lowest cost payment route (usually eftpos) is not the default. These higher fees ultimately hurt all Australians, with small and family businesses and poor and disadvantaged consumers impacted the most!

To keep costs down, the Reserve Bank must require:

- the lowest cost payment route to be the default for all contactless debit transactions, whether consumers tap their card, wave their phone or pay online.

- eftpos or another low cost option be available as a choice on all debit cards, so local businesses have a choice and can access the lowest cost payment option. Without eftpos on the card, everyday services like getting cash out at the check-out, real time Medicare refunds and apps like Beem It to pay your friends, are also unavailable.

The least cost payment option should always be the default for essential debit card transactions for local businesses and their customers.

Keep costs down and help your local businesses!

Show your support by signing this petition to demand that the Reserve Bank and Federal Government make low-cost payments the default for local businesses and keep Australia’s local payment network, eftpos, as a choice on all debit cards.

This petition is supported by the following organisations:

Australasian Convenience and Petroleum Marketers Association (ACAPMA)

Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) 

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI)  

Australian Lottery and Newsagents Association (ALNA)  

Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA)  

Franchise Council of Australia (FCA)

The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB)  

MGA Independent Retailers / The Timber Merchants Association (TMA)  

National Retail Association (NRA)  

Restaurant & Catering Industry Association of Australia (R&CA)