And the gap between what we pay and what other countries charge is growing.
The Numbers
An Australian passport currently costs A$422 and increases every single year. Singapore produces a passport with comparable security features for the equivalent of A$77, less than one fifth of the Australian price. Germany, another country recognised for producing a high quality, highly secure travel document, also charges a fraction of what Australians pay.
How Far Prices Have Drifted From Inflation
If the Australian passport fee had only risen in line with inflation since 1988 it would cost around A$190 today. Instead it has increased at nearly double the rate of inflation over the last decade. That is not a cost of living adjustment. That is a sustained and deliberate increase well above what rising costs alone would justify.
The Government’s Justification
The official explanation points to the enhanced security features of the ‘R Series’ passport. The Australian passport is world class in terms of technology and security. That is not in dispute. But what is harder to justify is the price. Given that Singapore and Germany produce passports of equivalent quality and security at a significantly lower cost to their citizens.
The Real Question
The issue is not whether our passport is good. It clearly is. The question is why Australians are paying multiples of what comparable countries charge for a document of equivalent quality, and why that gap continues to widen year after year.
Do you think A$422 for a passport is justified? Comment YES or NO below.