The Reserve Bank of Australia has released a discussion paper ‘Reform of Australia’s Payments System: Issues for the 2007/08 Review’.
The release of this paper begins the formal process of consultation for
the Bank’s review of previous payments system reforms (including credit card reform in 2002) as foreshadowed in 2006.

The
paper sets out details on the timing and scope of the review and
provides a summary of the reforms and their rationale. The paper also
raises a number of specific issues on which the Bank is seeking comment
from interested parties.

The review will examine not only the effects
of the reforms to date, but also how, looking forward, the regulatory
regime can best contribute to competition and efficiency in the
Australian payments system. In particular, the review will examine what
has changed since the reforms were introduced and how any changes might
bear on the appropriate regulatory regime in the future.

Reflecting the broad scope of the review, the paper raises three interrelated questions:

1. what have been the effects of the reforms to date?
2. what
   is the case for ongoing regulation of interchange fees, access
   arrangements and scheme rules, and what are the practical alternatives
   to the current regulatory approach? and
3. if the current regulatory approach is retained, what  changes, if any, should be made to the standards and access regimes?

Submissions are due by 31 August 2007. The Bank expects to
release its preliminary conclusions from the review – including details
of the general directions the Board is considering – for consultation
in April 2008.