Jim Chalmers denies Anthony Albanese overruled him on tax office credit card ban

Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers has denied being rolled by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese following a personal intervention by the Prime Minister to delay an Australian Taxation Office ban on credit card payments, The Guardian reported. The Daily Mail and The Guardian both report that Anthony Albanese intervened to delay the credit card payment ban after receiving a message from Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chief Executive Andrew McKellar. [1][2]

According to the Daily Mail, Andrew McKellar texted the Prime Minister on Thursday morning last week, and an official announcement followed by Friday morning. The Guardian reported that Jim Chalmers announced stopgap funding for the tax office a day after Anthony Albanese stepped in to halt the controversial ban. [1][2]

The Daily Mail reported that Anthony Albanese presented conflicting accounts of his involvement, taking credit for getting things done at an Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry event before pointing to collective government during parliamentary Question Time. [1]

The tax payment rules have sparked intense debate in the Australian Parliament, as FTMQ News reported earlier. Liberal MP Angie Bell faced criticism after making controversial remarks during the debate, while Small Business Minister Anne Aly reported receiving 19 death threats in the week prior. [3]