The Albanese government has been accused of being obsessed with secrecy after it refused to answer simple questions about why Australia has the world’s most expensive passports.
Independent ACT Senator David Pocock said Labor was profiteering off passport sales after last week’s Senate estimates revealed the government would collect $789 million this year. Australians are charged $422 per passport, about twice as much as people pay in comparable nations.
As Pocock questioned Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) officials, Foreign Minister Penny Wong appeared to confirm passport sales were being used to raise revenue.
“If you could tell us where you are going to get the alternative income from, Senator?” she asked.
