The report released by the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) on the procurement practices of the Australian Passport Office has revealed unethical and grave misuse of taxpayer’s money.
The Australian Passport Office (APO) is meant to provide Australians with an official government document and adhere to the Commonwealth Procurement Rules to administer this service.
The ANAO report has divulged that over four years the APO managed 331 contracts totalling $1.58 billion.
However, under the Albanese Labor Government, in 2022-23 contract amendments represented 69 per cent by number or 83 per cent by value.
After conducting a report into the APO earlier this year that revealed a woefully inefficient service was being provided to Australians for their passports the ANAO witnessed signs that the APO’s procurement practices also needed a closer look.
These reports paint a grim picture of the APO however under Labor Australian passport fees have gone up 22.5 per cent.
What the Albanese Government labelled as a “modest” increase to passport fees is now seen for the backdoor tax grab that is it.
Australians are being taken for a ride twice over before they’ve even left the country, firstly by paying the highest passport prices in the world, and secondly as officials appear to have been leaving taxpayers exposed via questionable procurement practices.
The Coalition will have further questions to ask during Senate Estimates next week, for which we expect the DFAT and the APO to be prepared.
ENDS