Claire Chandler (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

exactly what you said, Senator Urquhart—to $1,600 on 1 July 2024.

It's worth noting that the government did not give prior notice of this fee increase and that there hasn't been an explanation for this increase made available to the media. This occurred when the then Minister for Home Affairs, Ms O'Neil; the then Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, Mr Giles; as well as the Minister for Education and the Minister for Skills and Training put out a media release on Monday 1 July 2024 announcing the increase.

In contrast to this, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Dutton, said in his budget reply speech that, when in government, we:

… will enhance the integrity of the student visa program by introducing a tiered approach to increasing the student visa application fee and applying it to foreign students who change providers.

I think there is a very clear contrast between what the current opposition will do when in government and what is occurring in the government currently. We want to front up and tell the Australian public what we intend to do, and that is, as I said, in stark contrast to the government, who put out a media release on the day that the indexation occurred by a significant amount, from $710 to $1,600, and won't then front the media to explain that increase or go to the public to explain their policy.

As I said, on behalf of the opposition, we will not be supporting Senator Shoebridge's disallowance motion here this afternoon.