PEOPLE AT AUTOMATIC TELLER MACHINES AT A WESTPAC CITY BRANCH IN SYDNEY, 2000-06-28 (photo)

Visitors to a central city branch of Westpac operate automatic teller machines during their lunch break June 28. Australia's major banks were today investigating whether to follow Westpac's lead in hiking some fees the full ten percent under the GST which comes into force next month. Westpac said its small business customers would be slugged the full ten per cent on some cheque account fees, while over-the-counter transactions would also rise. The move raised further criticism of bank fees and concerns that small businesses would be disadvantaged by the increases. The government implements a ten percent goods and services tax (GST) July 1. WB/PB