❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses concerns about BankWest cancelling manual credit card facilities for small businesses, particularly in regional areas, due to profitability concerns. The Minister denies awareness but initiates an inquiry.
AnsweredQoN 1406Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I have been advised by a distressed small business constituent that BankWest is cancelling her phone authorisation access for a manual slide credit card facility on the basis that her business, and other small businesses like her, do not meet with the bank’s profit expectations for that service. (1) Is the minister aware that BankWest is currently advising many small business customers using manual slide credit card facilities that their credit card accounts will be cancelled, forcing them to move to an electronic funds transfer at point of sale system? (2) Is the minister aware of any other banks taking similar action? (3) Can the minister estimate how many small businesses have been affected, or are likely to be affected, by this profit-motivated campaign by banks, including BankWest? (4) What action has the Government taken, or what action is the Government planning to take, to protect small businesses, especially those in regional WA, that cannot afford to transfer to an EFTPOS system, from being adversely affected by this campaign, including, where appropriate, representations to the federal Government? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) No. (4) The Minister for Small Business has requested the Small Business Development Corporation to inquire into the reported practice that has been mentioned, including how widespread it is, and the likely impact.
(1) Is the minister aware that BankWest is currently advising many small business customers using manual slide credit card facilities that their credit card accounts will be cancelled, forcing them to move to an electronic funds transfer at point of sale system? (2) Is the minister aware of any other banks taking similar action? (3) Can the minister estimate how many small businesses have been affected, or are likely to be affected, by this profit-motivated campaign by banks, including BankWest? (4) What action has the Government taken, or what action is the Government planning to take, to protect small businesses, especially those in regional WA, that cannot afford to transfer to an EFTPOS system, from being adversely affected by this campaign, including, where appropriate, representations to the federal Government? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) No. (4) The Minister for Small Business has requested the Small Business Development Corporation to inquire into the reported practice that has been mentioned, including how widespread it is, and the likely impact.
(2) Is the minister aware of any other banks taking similar action? (3) Can the minister estimate how many small businesses have been affected, or are likely to be affected, by this profit-motivated campaign by banks, including BankWest? (4) What action has the Government taken, or what action is the Government planning to take, to protect small businesses, especially those in regional WA, that cannot afford to transfer to an EFTPOS system, from being adversely affected by this campaign, including, where appropriate, representations to the federal Government? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) No. (4) The Minister for Small Business has requested the Small Business Development Corporation to inquire into the reported practice that has been mentioned, including how widespread it is, and the likely impact.
(3) Can the minister estimate how many small businesses have been affected, or are likely to be affected, by this profit-motivated campaign by banks, including BankWest? (4) What action has the Government taken, or what action is the Government planning to take, to protect small businesses, especially those in regional WA, that cannot afford to transfer to an EFTPOS system, from being adversely affected by this campaign, including, where appropriate, representations to the federal Government? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) No. (4) The Minister for Small Business has requested the Small Business Development Corporation to inquire into the reported practice that has been mentioned, including how widespread it is, and the likely impact.
(4) What action has the Government taken, or what action is the Government planning to take, to protect small businesses, especially those in regional WA, that cannot afford to transfer to an EFTPOS system, from being adversely affected by this campaign, including, where appropriate, representations to the federal Government? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) No. (4) The Minister for Small Business has requested the Small Business Development Corporation to inquire into the reported practice that has been mentioned, including how widespread it is, and the likely impact.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) No. (4) The Minister for Small Business has requested the Small Business Development Corporation to inquire into the reported practice that has been mentioned, including how widespread it is, and the likely impact.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) No. (4) The Minister for Small Business has requested the Small Business Development Corporation to inquire into the reported practice that has been mentioned, including how widespread it is, and the likely impact.
(1)-(3) No. (4) The Minister for Small Business has requested the Small Business Development Corporation to inquire into the reported practice that has been mentioned, including how widespread it is, and the likely impact.
(4) The Minister for Small Business has requested the Small Business Development Corporation to inquire into the reported practice that has been mentioned, including how widespread it is, and the likely impact.
(1) Is the minister aware that BankWest is currently advising many small business customers using manual slide credit card facilities that their credit card accounts will be cancelled, forcing them to move to an electronic funds transfer at point of sale system? (2) Is the minister aware of any other banks taking similar action? (3) Can the minister estimate how many small businesses have been affected, or are likely to be affected, by this profit-motivated campaign by banks, including BankWest? (4) What action has the Government taken, or what action is the Government planning to take, to protect small businesses, especially those in regional WA, that cannot afford to transfer to an EFTPOS system, from being adversely affected by this campaign, including, where appropriate, representations to the federal Government? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) No. (4) The Minister for Small Business has requested the Small Business Development Corporation to inquire into the reported practice that has been mentioned, including how widespread it is, and the likely impact.
(2) Is the minister aware of any other banks taking similar action? (3) Can the minister estimate how many small businesses have been affected, or are likely to be affected, by this profit-motivated campaign by banks, including BankWest? (4) What action has the Government taken, or what action is the Government planning to take, to protect small businesses, especially those in regional WA, that cannot afford to transfer to an EFTPOS system, from being adversely affected by this campaign, including, where appropriate, representations to the federal Government? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) No. (4) The Minister for Small Business has requested the Small Business Development Corporation to inquire into the reported practice that has been mentioned, including how widespread it is, and the likely impact.
(3) Can the minister estimate how many small businesses have been affected, or are likely to be affected, by this profit-motivated campaign by banks, including BankWest? (4) What action has the Government taken, or what action is the Government planning to take, to protect small businesses, especially those in regional WA, that cannot afford to transfer to an EFTPOS system, from being adversely affected by this campaign, including, where appropriate, representations to the federal Government? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) No. (4) The Minister for Small Business has requested the Small Business Development Corporation to inquire into the reported practice that has been mentioned, including how widespread it is, and the likely impact.
(4) What action has the Government taken, or what action is the Government planning to take, to protect small businesses, especially those in regional WA, that cannot afford to transfer to an EFTPOS system, from being adversely affected by this campaign, including, where appropriate, representations to the federal Government? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) No. (4) The Minister for Small Business has requested the Small Business Development Corporation to inquire into the reported practice that has been mentioned, including how widespread it is, and the likely impact.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) No. (4) The Minister for Small Business has requested the Small Business Development Corporation to inquire into the reported practice that has been mentioned, including how widespread it is, and the likely impact.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) No. (4) The Minister for Small Business has requested the Small Business Development Corporation to inquire into the reported practice that has been mentioned, including how widespread it is, and the likely impact.
(1)-(3) No. (4) The Minister for Small Business has requested the Small Business Development Corporation to inquire into the reported practice that has been mentioned, including how widespread it is, and the likely impact.
(4) The Minister for Small Business has requested the Small Business Development Corporation to inquire into the reported practice that has been mentioned, including how widespread it is, and the likely impact.
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