Millions of consumers in New South Wales have been unlawfully charged fees by the state government. About $145 million has been gouged since 2016, mostly via Service NSW. Labor says it happened on the Coalition's watch, and it's asked the state ombudsman and the corruption watchdog to investigate.
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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.