Mortgage broker and tax critic Joseph Dauod is reported to be campaigning against Australia’s card surcharge changes, using billboards around Canberra Airport and television advertising. The available account does not establish his exact claims, who organized or funded the campaign, or what evidence supports it. Separately, payment-provider guidance says card surcharges are due to end on 1 October 2026; the precise legal scope should be checked against the Reserve Bank of Australia’s rules.
What is known about the campaign
A 12 October 2026 report by The West Australian, titled “Tax critic Joseph Dauod’s ads put Labor Government in cross-hairs over surcharge ban,” identifies Dauod as a mortgage broker and tax critic and says he is using billboards around Canberra Airport and television advertising to oppose the changes. That is the extent of the campaign detail established by the available account.
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It does not establish the ads’ exact wording, the identity of any campaign organization or funders, or the evidence behind Dauod’s objections. No direct quotation from Dauod was verified, so the campaign’s specific case should not be inferred from the report’s headline or summarized as though its claims had been independently checked.
What changes on 1 October 2026?
Guidance from payment providers Advanced Payment Solutions and Funraisin says Australian card payment surcharges end on 1 October 2026. Funraisin describes the change as covering eftpos and Mastercard and Visa payments made with debit, prepaid and credit cards. These are provider explanations, not a substitute for the legal instrument: the exact scope, wording and any exceptions should be confirmed against the Reserve Bank of Australia’s rules.
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The reported campaign concerns Australia. Mastercard’s separate merchant guidance for the United States concerns a different jurisdiction and should not be used to determine Australian requirements.
How to distinguish a card surcharge from other fees
Advanced Payment Solutions distinguishes a surcharge triggered by the customer’s payment method from a day-based service fee that applies to customers regardless of how they pay. In its explanation, disclosure before the transaction matters, and a broadly applied fee cannot simply be used as a substitute for a card surcharge. This is the provider’s guidance, not personalized legal advice; businesses should check the applicable rules for their circumstances.
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Funraisin likewise explains that an optional donor contribution is voluntary and unrelated to the payment method, so it differs from a mandatory card surcharge. The change should therefore not be described as banning every business fee or voluntary checkout contribution. How a charge actually operates—not only what it is called—matters to the distinction.
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What merchants should check
For a merchant, the practical questions are whether a charge is tied to card use, which payment methods it applies to, when customers see its amount, and whether payment-terminal settings or pricing need to change. Advanced Payment Solutions notes that terminal configuration is relevant. Providers’ explanations can help identify issues to check, but merchants should verify the applicable requirements and their own setup with the relevant payment provider and authoritative Australian rules.
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