Higher travel costs could hurt tourism and jobs
Critics argued the extra $10 charge would add to travel costs and could flow through to weaker tourism demand, hurting tourism operators and employment.
Passenger Movement Charge Amendment
Current status
This bill became law on Mar 8th, 2024.
Policy area
Immigration, border & security
What does this bill do?
People leaving Australia for another country now pay a $70 passenger movement chargeThis is the tax people pay when they leave Australia for another country, and this bill lifts it from $60 to $70. instead of $60.
Why was it introduced?
The 2023-24 BudgetThis is the government budget that included the decision to raise the passenger movement charge. measure required the passenger movement chargeThis is the tax people pay when they leave Australia for another country, and this bill lifts it from $60 to $70. to rise, and the law still contained redundant wording from a moratoriumThis was the earlier freeze on increases to the passenger movement charge, and the bill removes wording that referred to it after it ended in 2022. that ended in 2022. This bill increases the charge from $60 to $70 for most departures from 1 July 2024 and removes the outdated moratoriumThis was the earlier freeze on increases to the passenger movement charge, and the bill removes wording that referred to it after it ended in 2022. wording.
Broader context
Australia already had a long-running passenger movement chargeThis is the tax people pay when they leave Australia for another country, and this bill lifts it from $60 to $70. on people leaving the country, set at $60 since its last increase in 2017, while the law also still carried obsolete wording from a moratoriumThis was the earlier freeze on increases to the passenger movement charge, and the bill removes wording that referred to it after it ended in 2022. on rises that had ended in 2022. In the 2023-24 BudgetThis is the government budget that included the decision to raise the passenger movement charge. the government decided to lift the charge to $70 to support border services, and this bill implemented that change from 1 July 2024 while preserving the $60 rate for travel sold or ticketed before that date, with the change locked in after Parliament passed the bill and Royal AssentThis is the formal approval that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. followed.
Key criticism
The main criticism was that lifting the passenger movement chargeThis is the tax people pay when they leave Australia for another country, and this bill lifts it from $60 to $70. from $60 to $70 would make overseas travel more expensive and could hurt tourism businesses and jobs. That case was pressed most clearly by opposition spokesperson Dan Tehan, while Coalition senator Susan McDonald still backed the bill but warned the increase was poorly timed during a cost-of-living squeeze.
Who supported it?
Clare O'neil MPThis stands for Member of Parliament, the title used for elected federal politicians such as Clare O'Neil. introduced this bill. It passed on the voices.
Introduced in House 07 Feb 2024
Passed House 14 Feb 2024
Passed Senate 29 Feb 2024
Became law 08 Mar 2024
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 08 Mar 2024
Final passage
Passed without a counted vote
Members called out ‘aye’ or ‘no’ — no individual votes were recorded.
Passage speed
30 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
What does this bill do?
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People leaving Australia for another country now pay a $70 passenger movement chargeThis is the tax people pay when they leave Australia for another country, and this bill lifts it from $60 to $70. instead of $60.
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The higher $70 charge applies to departures from Australia on or after 1 July 2024.
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Travellers can still pay the old $60 charge if they leave on a ticket, or a similar travel authority, that was sold or issued before 1 July 2024.
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The law also removes outdated wording about an old freeze on passenger movement chargeThis is the tax people pay when they leave Australia for another country, and this bill lifts it from $60 to $70. increases that had already ended in 2022.
Show source excerpts
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The Bill amends section 6 of the Passenger Movement Charge Act to increase the rate of the passenger movement charge, per person, from $60 to $70. The increased passenger movement charge will apply to persons who depart Australia for another country on or after 1 July 2024. However, the previous passenger movement charge of $60 will continue to apply if the person departs Australia using a ticket sold or an authority equivalent to a ticket issued before 1 July 2024.
Passenger Movement Charge Amendment explanatory memorandum -
The amendment made by item 1 of this Schedule applies in relation to the departure of a person from Australia on or after 1 July 2024, unless:
Passenger Movement Charge Amendment Act 2024 final Act text -
The Bill amends section 6 of the Passenger Movement Charge Act to increase the rate of the passenger movement charge, per person, from $60 to $70. The increased passenger movement charge will apply to persons who depart Australia for another country on or after 1 July 2024. However, the previous passenger movement charge of $60 will continue to apply if the person departs Australia using a ticket sold or an authority equivalent to a ticket issued before 1 July 2024.
Passenger Movement Charge Amendment explanatory memorandum -
The effect of this amendment is to increase the passenger movement charge from $60 to $70. In doing so, this amendment also removes redundant words relating to the moratorium on any increase to the passenger movement charge. The moratorium expired on 30 June 2022.
Passenger Movement Charge Amendment explanatory memorandum
Context
Broader context for this bill
Australia already had a long-running passenger movement chargeThis is the tax people pay when they leave Australia for another country, and this bill lifts it from $60 to $70. on people leaving the country, set at $60 since its last increase in 2017, while the law also still carried obsolete wording from a moratoriumThis was the earlier freeze on increases to the passenger movement charge, and the bill removes wording that referred to it after it ended in 2022. on rises that had ended in 2022. In the 2023-24 BudgetThis is the government budget that included the decision to raise the passenger movement charge. the government decided to lift the charge to $70 to support border services, and this bill implemented that change from 1 July 2024 while preserving the $60 rate for travel sold or ticketed before that date, with the change locked in after Parliament passed the bill and Royal AssentThis is the formal approval that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. followed.
- 2017
Passenger movement chargeThis is the tax people pay when they leave Australia for another country, and this bill lifts it from $60 to $70. is last increased to $60
Parliamentary debate on the bill said the 2024 rise was the first increase since 2017, leaving the departure charge at $60 for several years before this bill.
Hansard ↗ - 2023-24
2023-24 BudgetThis is the government budget that included the decision to raise the passenger movement charge. announces a higher departure charge
The bill's explanatory memorandumThis is the document that explains what the bill does and why the government says it is needed. says it was introduced to implement the government's 2023-24 BudgetThis is the government budget that included the decision to raise the passenger movement charge. decision to increase the passenger movement chargeThis is the tax people pay when they leave Australia for another country, and this bill lifts it from $60 to $70..
Passenger Movement Charge Amendment explanatory memorandum ↗ - 07 Feb 2024
Government introduces the bill to lift the charge
The minister's second reading speechThis is the minister's speech in Parliament that sets out the case for the bill. said the bill would raise the charge from $60 to $70 from 1 July 2024 and remove spent moratoriumThis was the earlier freeze on increases to the passenger movement charge, and the bill removes wording that referred to it after it ended in 2022. wording from the Act.
Hansard ↗ - 29 Feb 2024
Parliament passes the bill
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, clearing the way for the Budget measure to become law before the new rate's planned start date.
Parliamentary timeline ↗ - 08 Mar 2024
Royal AssentThis is the formal approval that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. turns the bill into law
Royal AssentThis is the formal approval that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. completed the bill's passage and confirmed the legal basis for the higher charge to commence later in 2024.
Parliamentary timeline ↗ - 01 July 2024
Higher $70 charge starts for most overseas departures
From this date the charge rose to $70 for departures from Australia, while travellers using tickets sold or equivalent authorities issued before 1 July 2024 could still pay $60.
Passenger Movement Charge Amendment explanatory memorandum ↗
Legislative route
How did it move through Parliament?
House Senate
Introduced 07 Feb 2024
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
Second reading opened 07 Feb 2024
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
Second reading debate 13 Feb 2024
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Sent to Federation Chamber for debate 13 Feb 2024
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Referred to Federation Chamber
Second reading debate 14 Feb 2024
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House second reading agreed 14 Feb 2024
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
Returned from Federation Chamber 14 Feb 2024
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Reported from Federation Chamber
House third reading agreed 14 Feb 2024
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Introduced 26 Feb 2024
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
Second reading opened 26 Feb 2024
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
Second reading debate 29 Feb 2024
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate second reading agreed 29 Feb 2024
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
Senate third reading agreed 29 Feb 2024
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Passed both houses 29 Feb 2024
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Finally passed both Houses
Assent 08 Mar 2024
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThis is the formal approval that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament., turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
The main case against this bill
The main criticism was that lifting the passenger movement chargeThis is the tax people pay when they leave Australia for another country, and this bill lifts it from $60 to $70. from $60 to $70 would make overseas travel more expensive and could hurt tourism businesses and jobs. That case was pressed most clearly by opposition spokesperson Dan Tehan, while Coalition senator Susan McDonald still backed the bill but warned the increase was poorly timed during a cost-of-living squeeze.
Criticism focused on economic impact, not the bill's basic mechanics or legal drafting.
Poor timing during cost-of-living pressure
A narrower reservation was that increasing a departure charge was unfortunate while households were already under cost-of-living pressure, and that any future rises should better account for tourism-sector impacts.
Further sources
Votes
Recorded votes
How the bill itself passed
The bill passed both chambers on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage.
Passed House passed the bill
House agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed
House passed the bill
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Passed Senate passed the bill
Senate agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed
Senate passed the bill
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Parliamentary debate
Who spoke, and what they said
Start here — lead voices
Sponsor speech Supports
Clare O'Neil
O'Neil supports the bill and says the higher passenger movement chargeThis is the tax people pay when they leave Australia for another country, and this bill lifts it from $60 to $70. is a responsible, inflation-linked measure that will raise revenue for border protection and help fund services like customs, immigration and biosecurity.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead opposing voice Opposes
Dan Tehan
Tehan opposes the bill because he says increasing the passenger movement chargeThis is the tax people pay when they leave Australia for another country, and this bill lifts it from $60 to $70. will hurt tourism and cost jobs.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead supporting voice Supports
Susan McDonald
McDonald says the coalition will support the bill, but argues the higher passenger movement chargeThis is the tax people pay when they leave Australia for another country, and this bill lifts it from $60 to $70. is unfortunate during a cost-of-living squeeze and could hurt tourism.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead voice Supports
Carol Brown
Brown supports the bill, saying the increase in the passenger movement chargeThis is the tax people pay when they leave Australia for another country, and this bill lifts it from $60 to $70. is a considered and responsible measure that is broadly in line with inflation and will help fund border protection and tourism investment.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
Labor
2 speakers · 3 contributions · 2 support
Labor
2 speakers · 3 contributions · 2 support
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Carol Brown ★ 2 contributions Brown supports the bill, saying the increase in the passenger movement chargeThis is the tax people pay when they leave Australia for another country, and this bill lifts it from $60 to $70. is a considered and responsible measure that is broadly in line with inflation and will help fund border protection and tourism investment.
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Carol Brown, including an amendment-moving contribution. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Moved amendment
Brown supports the bill, saying the increase in the passenger movement chargeThis is the tax people pay when they leave Australia for another country, and this bill lifts it from $60 to $70. is a considered and responsible measure that is broadly in line with inflation and will help fund border protection and tourism investment.
“This increase to the passenger movement charge will apply to persons departing Australia from 1 July 2024 with a ticket purchased from that time. This is a considered and responsible measure that will contribute to the continued economic prosperity of Australia, including continued support and investment in our travel and tourism sectors.”
Read this contribution in Hansard ↗Second reading speech
Brown supports the bill and says the charge increase is part of the government's budget strategy to strengthen the economy and fund border protection and biosecurity. She argues the $10 rise is in line with inflation since the last increase and commends the bill to the Senate.
“The Passenger Movement Charge Amendment Bill 2024 will amend the Passenger Movement Charge Act 1978 to implement the government's announced budget measure to increase the passenger movement charge from $60 to $70, effective from 1 July this year. The increase of $10 to the passenger movement charge is broadly in line with the increase in inflation since the last time the charge was increased, in 2017.”
Read this contribution in Hansard ↗ -
Clare O'Neil ★ O'Neil supports the bill and says the higher passenger movement chargeThis is the tax people pay when they leave Australia for another country, and this bill lifts it from $60 to $70. is a responsible, inflation-linked measure that will raise revenue for border protection and help fund services like customs, immigration and biosecurity.
“This increase of $10 to the passenger movement charge is broadly in line with the increase in inflation since 2017. It will see an additional $520 million generated in revenue over the next three years. This is one of several measures our government announced in the 2023-24 budget as part of our economic and fiscal strategy to make the economy and budget stronger, more resilient and more sustainable over the medium term.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Coalition
2 speakers · 1 support · 1 oppose
Coalition
2 speakers · 1 support · 1 oppose
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Susan McDonald ★ McDonald says the coalition will support the bill, but argues the higher passenger movement chargeThis is the tax people pay when they leave Australia for another country, and this bill lifts it from $60 to $70. is unfortunate during a cost-of-living squeeze and could hurt tourism.
“Evidently the Prime Minister has no qualms now about further increasing the charge, in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis. At a time when we want to be doing everything we can to help and support our tourism, it is unfortunate that the government has chosen to increase the passenger movement charge. The passenger movement charge was last increased in 2017, and the coalition government legislated a five-year freeze on further increases. That freeze has now ended and, while the current $10 increase is consistent with the CPI over that time, I encourage the government to be cognisant of the impacts on Australia's tourism industry when considering any further increases to this charge. I'd also like to commend the important work of the men and women in the Australian Border Force in protecting our borders, which the passenger movement charge ultimately supports. The coalition will be supporting this bill without amendment.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Dan Tehan ★ Tehan opposes the bill because he says increasing the passenger movement chargeThis is the tax people pay when they leave Australia for another country, and this bill lifts it from $60 to $70. will hurt tourism and cost jobs.
“The increase in the Passenger Movement Charge has real consequences tourism and will have jobs impacts in the tourism industry, which employs a million Australians, is Australia's largest service export and has been nominated as one of Australia's five super growth sectors …”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
Full record
- Act title
- Passenger Movement Charge Amendment Act 2024
- Act number
- Act No. 6, 2024
- Became law
- 08 Mar 2024
- Takes effect
- The whole of this Act 01 July 2024
- Registered
- 13 Mar 2024
- Administered by
- Department of Home Affairs
- Final law metadata was collected from the APH progress table; commencement rows were parsed from the bill text.
- Status
- Act -- Collected from the APH bill page.
- Originating house
- House of Representatives
- 07 Feb 2024
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
- 07 Feb 2024
House · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
- 13 Feb 2024
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 13 Feb 2024
House · Referred to Federation Chamber
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 14 Feb 2024
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 14 Feb 2024
House · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
- 14 Feb 2024
House · Reported from Federation Chamber
Reported from Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 14 Feb 2024
House · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
- 26 Feb 2024
Senate · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
- 26 Feb 2024
Senate · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
- 29 Feb 2024
Senate · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 29 Feb 2024
Senate · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
- 29 Feb 2024
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
- 29 Feb 2024
Parliament · Finally passed both Houses
Passed both houses
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
- 08 Mar 2024
Assent · Assent
Assent
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThis is the formal approval that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament., turning the bill into an Act.