The Australian government has launched an updated version of its Government EasyPay system, affecting how millions of citizens make payments to departments including Services Australia and the Australian Taxation Office.
As of 6 September, welfare recipients and others paying via debit or credit card may notice an additional step when completing transactions. The upgrade, led by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), introduces new security verification measures aimed at reducing fraud.
New Security Measures Introduced for Public Payments
The updated EasyPay system, which is widely used for handling tax instalments, child support, and other government charges, now includes extra security prompts for some transactions. According to Services Australia General Manager Hank Jongen, users may be asked to provide a one-time passcode sent to their device or answer a personal identity question during payment.
“This change will strengthen security to help protect both the agency and our customers against online credit and debit card transaction fraud,” said Jongen, speaking to Yahoo Finance.
The need for additional verification is not universal. It may be triggered by first-time card use or if the payment amount differs significantly from previous transactions. This system is designed to mirror existing banking processes, where new payees often require extra confirmation to verify the sender’s identity.
Jongen stressed that the update does not affect how government benefits or payments are issued. The revision solely relates to payments being made to the government, not the other way around. The types of cards accepted also remain unchanged.
Australians Urged to Stay Alert to Payment Scams
With the rollout of the upgraded platform, Services Australia has issued a reminder about the growing risk of online fraud. Australians are being urged to ensure they are interacting only with official government websites, such as servicesaustralia.gov.au and my.gov.au.
“There are no changes to how we make payments to customers, only changes to how payments are made to us,” said Jongen. Scams impersonating government agencies continue to rise in frequency and sophistication. According to Services Australia, fraud attempts have affected users of all ages and continue to exploit moments of confusion or transition—such as system changes.
The Government EasyPay system is a shared infrastructure used by several federal departments including Defence and Treasury. The RBA’s decision to overhaul it reflects growing national concern over cybercrime and digital payment vulnerabilities. While the upgrade introduces a minor inconvenience for some users, it forms part of a broader strategy to improve digital trust in government systems.
