ACT Government

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The ACT Government is the governing authority for the Australian Capital Territory and, through Access Canberra, administers services including public parking facilities and collection of parking fees in Canberra.

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
act.gov.au

About ACT Government

The ACT Government is the governing authority for the Australian Capital Territory, including Canberra, and is responsible for delivering a wide range of public services. Through its service arm, Access Canberra, it manages vehicle registration and licensing, public parking facilities and parking meters, public transport ticketing, rates and land tax, business registrations, fines and infringements, and many other regulatory and community services. Payments processed under “ACT Government,” “ACT GOV,” “Access Canberra,” or similar labels on your bank or card statement are typically for official government fees, charges, or penalties.

A charge from the ACT Government may appear on your statement for many reasons, including paying for on-street or off-street parking in Canberra, vehicle registration or licence renewals, public transport top‑ups, rates or land tax, infringement notices (such as parking, speeding, or other traffic fines), business or trades licence fees, or other online or in‑person government transactions. Some charges are one‑off (for example, paying a parking ticket or renewing a driver’s licence), while others may be recurring if you’ve set up periodic payments for rates, land tax, or other instalment plans. In some cases, you might see a small temporary authorisation hold when you first add or update a card for online payments, which should drop off automatically.

If you’re unsure about a charge, start by checking recent activities such as parking at ACT‑managed car parks, fines or infringement notices, licence/rego renewals, or payments made via the Access Canberra website, Service Centres, or call centre. You can review receipts and confirm payment details by logging into your Access Canberra account at accesscanberra.act.gov.au or checking any email/SMS confirmations you received. For further help, contact Access Canberra on 13 22 81 (within Australia), use the online enquiry form on the Access Canberra website, or visit an Access Canberra Service Centre with your ID, vehicle or notice details, and a screenshot or copy of the bank statement line showing the charge so they can investigate and resolve the issue.

Bank Statement Variations

3 known variations

These are the raw merchant codes that appear on bank and credit card statements that we've identified as belonging to ACT Government.

  1. ACT GOV PARKING FEES CANBERRA AU
  2. ACT GOV PARKING FEES CANBERRA AUS
  3. CIVIC Canberra AUS

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I see an ACT Government charge after using parking in Canberra?

Charges labelled “ACT Government,” “ACT GOV,” or “Access Canberra” often relate to parking fees at ACT‑managed on‑street meters or public car parks in Canberra. If you paid for parking using a card at a meter, via a parking app endorsed by Access Canberra, or at a pay station in a government‑operated facility, the fee is processed by the ACT Government. Check the date and time of the charge against when you parked, and review any parking receipts or in‑app history for confirmation.

What common amounts might ACT Government parking or infringement charges be for?

Parking session fees typically range from a few dollars for short stays to higher amounts for full‑day parking, depending on the zone and duration. Parking infringement fines and traffic fines can range from around AU$100 to several hundred dollars depending on the offence. Your infringement notice, reminder notice, or online fine lookup will show the exact amount, due date, and any additional costs such as late fees.

Why is there a small ACT Government amount that disappeared from my account?

When you pay certain fees online through Access Canberra or update a saved card, the system may place a small temporary authorisation (often a few cents or a low dollar amount) to verify your card. This is not a completed charge and should be reversed automatically within a few business days. If an authorisation remains pending for longer than a week or later posts as a completed charge that you don’t recognise, contact your bank and then Access Canberra with the transaction details.

How can I check what my ACT Government charge relates to?

Match the date and amount on your bank statement to any recent dealings with Access Canberra, such as vehicle registration, licence renewal, parking fees, rates payments, or fines. If you used the Access Canberra website, log into your account or check the “My Payments” or “Receipts” area for a matching transaction and reference number. If you still can’t identify it, contact Access Canberra on 13 22 81 or via the online enquiry form with the exact amount, date, and the description as it appears on your statement so they can trace it.

Can ACT Government charges be recurring or subscription‑like?

Most ACT Government payments are one‑off transactions for specific services, but some can recur if you have set up instalments or periodic payments. Examples include rates and land tax instalments, certain payment plans for fines, or scheduled direct debits you’ve authorised through your bank or the Access Canberra portal. If you’re seeing regular charges (monthly, quarterly, or yearly), check your rates notices, payment plan documents, or your Access Canberra account for active arrangements.

How do I dispute a fine or request a refund for an ACT Government payment?

For fines or infringements (such as parking or traffic offences), you generally need to lodge a request for review or dispute through the Access Canberra online forms or by following the instructions on your infringement notice; simply disputing the bank transaction will not cancel the fine. For overpayments, duplicate payments, or clearly incorrect charges (for example, a licence fee charged twice), contact Access Canberra with your receipt number(s), vehicle or licence details, and bank statement evidence to request a refund assessment. Refunds are not guaranteed and are processed in line with ACT Government legislation and policy, so processing times can vary.

How can I cancel or change an ongoing ACT Government payment arrangement?

If you’ve set up a direct debit or instalment plan through your bank to pay ACT Government bills (such as rates), you’ll need to adjust or cancel it directly with your bank. If the instalment arrangement was set up through Access Canberra (for example, a payment plan for a fine or certain charges), contact Access Canberra or log into your online account to review, vary, or cancel the plan in line with the terms of your agreement. Always confirm any changes in writing or via email so you have a record.

How do I contact the ACT Government about a charge on my statement?

For most payment or billing enquiries, contact Access Canberra, which handles front‑line services for the ACT Government. You can phone 13 22 81 within Australia, submit an enquiry at accesscanberra.act.gov.au, or visit an Access Canberra Service Centre in person. Have your bank statement (with the date, time, amount, and transaction description), any related notice or reference numbers, and your personal identification ready so they can quickly locate the transaction and assist you.

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