New Australian visa fees on the way?

[Flashback]

Home Affairs narrows down bids for billion-dollar visa platform deal

What is interesting for me is the comment the government will not pay for the implementation or ongoing running cost of the system. The vendor selected should expect revenue from each temporary visa application submitted. Does this mean the current free process will go the way of the dodo for visitors to Australia?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Interesting question. I guess there might be some cap? At some point potential tourists might be deterred from coming. They do have a choice of place to visit.

Unfortunately one of the groups putting forward a proposal includes Qantas. If they are successful I have a bad feeling that this will just try to screw as much money as possible (The other party includes Australia Post, who I trust as a brand to deliver these sorts of things.)

 

[AisleSeat]

Unfortunately one of the groups putting forward a proposal includes Qantas.

Would that not be flagged as a conflict of interest?

I'm picturing QF attempting something like where they would reduce the visa cost if you fly with them.

 

[JohnK]

Visa costs are already too high.

I paid over $7000 for spouse visa application and $145 for each exit/entry back to Australia.

I can just see some private company increasing these fees to the point where people cannot afford.

 

[Silvia]

This is ridiculous. No wonder why my family don't love the idea of coming over that often. The idea of having to pay $145 every single time they are here, plus airfares and the effort to fly all the way here it's a mammoth task! Also, it's a pretty annoying application process that asks sooooo many things, to add on top that Australia is not really a cheap place to visit.
Are we trying to play too hard to get here?

 

[Flashback]

Mrs Flashback flies into Australia every now and then and it costs $0.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Visa costs are already too high.

I paid over $7000 for spouse visa application and $145 for each exit/entry back to Australia.

I can just see some private company increasing these fees to the point where people cannot afford.

I don't see how this new system can cover things such as spouse visas... those need to be carefully considered by consular staff, not left to an automated system, or private contractors.

My concern is data security. Or what might happen with airlines having all this extra data about passengers.

 

[dkr]

Would that not be flagged as a conflict of interest?

That's not even remotely close the the biggest conflict of interest in this process...

The two proponents have been reported as a consortium from Australia Post and Accenture, and another group led by Scott Briggs, a Liberal party figure with strong links to the prime minister, Scott Morrison, the former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and the immigration minister, David Coleman.​