Treasurer Jim Chalmers has publicly denied reports that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese undermined his authority regarding a recent decision to restrict credit card payments for tax bills. The controversy arose after the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) moved to ban the use of credit cards for tax payments, a decision that faced significant backlash from the business community.

Following the criticism, Chalmers announced new funding for the ATO, which allows taxpayers to continue using credit cards for tax payments until the end of the current financial year. Reports suggested that this policy reversal was a result of the Prime Minister stepping in to override the Treasurer’s initial stance. However, Chalmers maintains that the decision was not a result of being 'rolled' by the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Albanese confirmed that he became involved in the matter after speaking with Andrew McKellar, the head of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI). Albanese indicated that these discussions prompted his intervention, which occurred shortly before the government announced the stopgap funding measure. While the government has framed the extension as a necessary step to support taxpayers, the timing of the Prime Minister’s involvement relative to the Treasurer’s initial policy announcement remains a point of interest for political observers.