00:00If you've driven a car, registered a boat, paid a fine, or got married since 2016, chances
00:12are you've been overcharged.
00:14I'm absolutely flabbergasted and beyond belief that this process has been going on for eight
00:19years.
00:20An estimated $145 million in merchant fees have been unlawfully charged, mostly via Service
00:26NSW.
00:28Labor says the previous government was warned about the issue three times via its agencies
00:33but failed to act.
00:34Modelling suggests that the average individual would be affected about $30 over the last
00:41eight years.
00:43The government, when it has been repeatedly advised, continued to undertake this unlawful
00:49activity.
00:50I don't recall ever seeing any such advice and I must say that if I had received any
00:55advice I would have raised it immediately.
00:57The government isn't guaranteeing refunds.
01:00It says some payments are difficult to trace, but it's asked the Ombudsman and the ICAC
01:05to investigate.
01:06Who knew about this and who should be held accountable?
01:10While Labor's accusing the Coalition of overcharging, it's being accused of slugging consumers another
01:16way via their private health insurance.
01:18Parliament's considering legislation that would allow an increased levy on insurers
01:22unless they contribute more to the public hospital system.
01:26The government says Bupa, HCF, Medibank and NIB aren't paying the required rate for a
01:31single room in a public hospital, but the insurance industry is fighting back.
01:36The government wants the legislation passed by the end of the week.
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