Sandra Goudie MP
National Party Internal Affairs Spokeswoman

17 November 2005

Barker fails to front over passport profits

Internal Affairs Minister Rick Barker has failed to explain how he will spend the around $20 million a year profit from new e-passports, says National’s Internal Affairs spokeswoman, Sandra Goudie.

“Claiming the excess funds are for new computer and encoding systems isn’t good enough, considering the price-gouging surplus,” says Ms Goudie.

“Consumers deserve a better answer to justify the doubling in price of the new passport, especially considering the life of a passport is now only five years. The cost of the new chip is $22, leaving a further $57 per passport profit still to be explained.

“Travellers will have no trouble when told not to smile for their photographs. With a 15% increase in demand for passports this year the Minister will be the only one smiling,”says Ms Goudie.

ENDS

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