As of this month, applicants now face a record application fee of $11,710 — up $2,345 from the previous charge

That’s 5x what it was. Hmm, that’s odd. EDIT: Nope, see brisk’s reply.

In an interview with SBS Nepali, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said he did not accept the way the visa fee increase has been characterised, arguing visa fees needed to be considered alongside other costs involved in moving overseas.

“Just remember with the costs as well, anybody who’s travelling overseas for an extended period of time has already decided that they’ve got the cost of an airfare and, you know, the visa fees are, are well below that,” he said.

WTF?

Has this guy ever booked his own flights? Brownwyn Bishop’s helicopter rides were cheaper than that.

Maybe he’s imagining moving a whole house of furniture and appliances overseas too? Does he imagine that’s how people do this?