Figures relating to surcharging frequency
Dear Reserve Bank of Australia,
Summary of Request:
Documents since (January 1, 2019):
• considering, recording or explaining how the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) determines or estimates the proportion or number of Australian businesses that apply surcharges on card payments, including but not limited to:
•data sources used;
•sampling or modelling methodologies;
•internal correspondence or advice on the reliability, limitations or assumptions of those estimates; and/or
•discussing, referencing or analysing data or reports produced by East & Partners in connection with merchant surcharging, merchant service fees, or related payment-cost behaviour; and/or
•considering, explaining or summarising any differences between RBA-collected data and third-party data (including East & Partners) on merchant surcharging rates, and any internal commentary on the accuracy, credibility or representativeness of such figures; and/or
•any internal communications, meeting notes, or briefings to RBA executives, the Payments Policy Department, or the Payments System Board concerning the use, citation, or exclusion of East & Partners data in RBA publications, speeches, or consultation papers
Yours faithfully,
C
GENERAL
Dear C / Towns,
In terms of the FOI Act 1982 I confirm receipt of your request below and advise that processing of it commenced on 25 October 2025.
Please be advised that, consistent with the provisions of the Information Publication Scheme, the Bank’s policy is to release all documents provided to applicants under the FOI Act 1982 on the Bank’s FOI disclosure log close to the same time they are provided to the applicant. The publication of any FOI related documents on our website will also be notified to the Bank’s RSS feed subscriber list.
Also please note that in the current environment, we intend to redact (in terms of section 22) the names and/or identifying material of junior officers (below Deputy Head of Department level) and email and phone contact details for all staff from any documents designated for release in relation to your request. If you have any issues with this intention, please let us know. These redactions will be in the same terms as previously agreed with you (leaving in references where possible).
Yours sincerely
Phil Lomas | Manager, FOI
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA | 8 Chifley Square, Sydney NSW 2000
e: [RBA request email] | w: www.rba.gov.au
GENERAL
Dear C / Towns,
In terms of section 24 the Freedom of Information Act 1982 Cth, I advise that your request in its current form (seeking documents you have detailed in your email below dating back to 1 January 2019) would be too broad to process due to a large volume of potentially relevant documents that would entail an extensive search and retrieval and decision making process to review them.
We have determined that processing it would substantially and unreasonably divert the resources of the Bank from its other operations in terms of s24AA(1)(a)(i) of the Act. Accordingly, we formally notify you under section 24AB(2)(a) of the Act that it is our intention to refuse access to all of the documents covered by your request.
As provided for by s24AB of the Act, you are now afforded the opportunity to engage in a ‘request consultation process’ with the Bank regarding possible revision of the scope of your request to remove the practical refusal reason (diversion of resources) applicable to your request. Section 24AB(2) requires:
(a) That we state our intention to refuse access to a document in accordance with your request (this notice satisfies this part);
(b) That we state the practical refusal reason (that is, processing your request in its current form would substantially and unreasonably divert the resources of the Bank from its other operations);
(c) Provision of the name of a contact officer of the Bank with whom you can discuss your application (the Bank’s FOI Officer, Phil Lomas, whose contact details appear below, is the contact person for this purpose);
(d) Provision of contact details for the contact officer (as indicated below); and
(e) Notification that the consultation period, during which you may consult with the contact person, commences the day after this notice is sent and is open for 14 days (i.e. ends on 20 November 2025).
We encourage you to contact us to discuss your options as provided for by the Act. If by consultation we are able to revise the scope in such a way that it satisfies you and removes the practical refusal reason we will be able to process the request.
Contact Officer details:
Phil Lomas, Manager, FOI, Secretary's Department
e: [RBA request email] | p: +61 2 9551 9744
Before the end of the consultation period, you have three options available to you under s24AB(6):
(a) Withdraw your request; or
(b) Make a revised request; or
(c) Indicate to the Bank that you do not wish to revise your request.
If you do not contact us during the consultation period, the Act determines that the request is withdrawn in terms of s24AB(7)(a).
Yours sincerely,
Phil Lomas | Manager, FOI
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA | 8 Chifley Square, Sydney NSW 2000
P: +61 2 9551 9744 | e: [RBA request email] | w: www.rba.gov.au
GENERAL
Dear C / Towns,
Further to the notice below, we advise that the consultation period provided for by the FOI Act 1982 Cth expired yesterday.
As you did not do one of the things detailed in section s24AB(6) within the consultation period, we confirm that section 24AB(7)(a) and (b) now apply to your request and it is taken to have been withdrawn in terms of s24AB(6)(a).
Yours sincerely
Phil Lomas | Manager, FOI
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA | 8 Chifley Square, Sydney NSW 2000
e: [RBA request email] | w: www.rba.gov.au