Live: Labor has 'real concerns' about ATO's credit card payments decision

Housing Minister Clare O'Neil says the federal government has "real concerns" about the Australian Tax Office's decision to stop accepting credit card payments for tax bills.Follow all the updates in our live blog. Thu 8 Oct 2026 at 7:28amThu 8 Oct 2026 at 7:28amPre-COP meeting in Fiji to conclude todayThe Australian-led climate talks in the Pacific will wrap up today, with a push to double the number of homes globally and rooftop solar the main item on the agenda.After four days of discussions, pre-COP is drawing to a close and there's been a mixed response to the event.Pacific communities and leaders have welcomed the opportunity to shine a spotlight on their fight against climate change. They've also attracted funding to better adapt to rising seas and more extreme weather events.But the Albanese government has been criticised for spending $20 million on the event and failing to attract many world leaders.Only two of the 14 who turned up hailed from outside of the Pacific.Today's focus will be the launch of a global plan to double the number of homes with rooftop solar to 300 million by the end of the decade. The Australian government will be asked to sign up to the pledge.Thu 8 Oct 2026 at 7:24amThu 8 Oct 2026 at 7:24amAyres plays down concerns over landmark High Court rulingIndustry Minister Tim Ayres has played down concerns about a landmark High Court ruling over a NSW coal mine expansion.The High Court found planning authorities are required to consider the emissions caused by burning fossil fuels overseas when approving projects.The case was brought on by a residents' group opposed to the expansion of the expansion of the Mount Pleasant mine in the NSW Hunter region.The Minerals Council says the decision sends a negative signal to Australia's trade partners.Speaking on ABC News Breakfast, Ayres says he doesn't think it's a very big deal because he says it is confined to a "particular set of circumstances in New South Wales".Ayres says it doesn't mean Australia is responsible for scope 3 emissions, which are not accounted for in Australia's emissions."It's up to Korea to comply with their obligations or Japan or the United States or all of the South-East Asian economies, for example, which have all got their own emissions obligations that they have signed up to, it's their obligation to do that work," Ayres says.Thu 8 Oct 2026 at 7:17amThu 8 Oct 2026 at 7:17amLabor has 'real concerns' about ATO's decision not to accept credit card payments: O'NeilClare O'Neil says the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) should resume discussions with the business sector over its decision not to accept credit card payments for tax bills.The housing minister says Labor has "real concerns" with the ATO's decision to ban credit card payments, following the Reserve Bank's decision to scrap surcharges.The ATO met with business groups yesterday angered by the move, but the department did not budge on its decision.However, O'Neil has defended the Reserve Bank's decision to scrap the fees, which cost consumers $1.6 billion a year."We really want the ATO to go back and talk to business about what they've decided to do here, and think about how they can find a solution that works," O'Neil has told Channel Nine."You should not be charged to use your own money, and businesses need to be transparent about how much they're charging for products and services. So this is a really good change the government has made."Nationals frontbencher Bridget McKenzie says ending the surcharge won't make everyday items cheaper.She says the government needs to direct the ATO to accept credit card payments."The prime minister promised that removing the surcharge would make coffees go down. Somehow ebenesco, surchargio, disappearo. Guess what? It doesn't disappear. Businesses are being expected to absorb it," McKenzie says.Thu 8 Oct 2026 at 7:07amThu 8 Oct 2026 at 7:07amGood morning 👋Hello and welcome to our federal politics live blog! It's great to have you join us here this Thursday morning.I'm Josh Boscaini joining you live from Parliament House in Canberra, here and ready to bring you all of today's federal politics news.Pre-COP talks in Fiji are set to wrap up today, with a push to double the number of homes globally with rooftop solar set to be main topic of discussion.Stay with us! We'll bring you all the day's politics news as it happens right here!