Man cautioned for stalking two South Australian MPs as tax office extends credit‑card payment deadline

Stalking Incident

A 44‑year‑old man was cautioned on Tuesday by South Australian police for stalking two state members of parliament. The cautions relate to separate alleged incidents involving Education Minister Lucy Hood and Labor MP Ella Shaw, and the police said the cases are not connected. He was also arrested for an alleged breach of bail. Lucy Hood called the behaviour "frustrating and unfortunate" and said it is sad that political discourse has forced young women in parliament to endure such actions. Ella Shaw said she reported the incident because she did not want any young person in her electorate to feel the way she was made to feel.

Tax Office Credit‑Card Issue

Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino explained that the Australian Taxation Office faced a "complex" problem after the Reserve Bank’s ban on credit‑card surcharges took effect at the start of October, forcing the ATO to stop accepting credit‑card payments. Tax Commissioner Rob Heferen warned the ban could cost the ATO about $200 million a year if it could not pass banking fees onto customers. The ATO will now allow credit‑card payments for an extended transition period until the end of June next year.

Datacentre Policy Debate

Opposition leader Angus Taylor said Australia must get the "balance right" on AI datacentres, arguing that locating them where communities support them and ensuring sufficient energy supply is essential. He warned that a renewables‑only strategy would not deliver the needed power and could raise energy costs for Australians.

Political Reactions

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese dismissed former Liberal treasurer Peter Costello’s criticism of the government’s handling of economic issues.

Context

Stalking cautions highlight growing concerns over safety of public officials, while the tax surcharge and datacentre debates show the government grappling with financial and energy policy adjustments in response to regulatory changes.