Australia's Passenger Movement Charge could rise from $70 to $80 per passenger from 1 January 2027 under legislation currently before Parliament.

The Passenger Movement Charge Amendment Bill 2026 was introduced in the House of Representatives on 12 August 2026. It has not yet become law and remains before the House. The proposed increase therefore cannot take effect unless the legislation completes the parliamentary process.

The Coalition and the Greens have both stated that they oppose the bill in its current form, creating uncertainty over its eventual passage if it reaches the Senate.

What the Bill Would Change

The Passenger Movement Charge is imposed on people departing Australia for another country, subject to specified exemptions.

Travellers do not usually make a separate payment at the airport. Instead, the charge is generally collected by an airline or other carrier as part of the ticket price and remitted to the government.

The proposed legislation would increase the charge from $70 to $80 for departures on or after 1 January 2027.

That represents a $10 increase, or approximately 14.3%.

The legislation would also align the applicable charge more closely with the passenger's date of departure rather than simply the date on which the ticket was sold.

The Increase Is Not Yet Law

The proposed $80 charge should be distinguished from the rate currently in force.

The existing Passenger Movement Charge remains $70.

For the increase to take effect, the bill must complete consideration in the House of Representatives and then pass the Senate before receiving Royal Assent.

The parliamentary bill record currently lists the legislation as still before the House of Representatives.

That means travellers and airlines should not treat the $80 rate as an enacted tax change at this stage.

Why the Government Proposed the Increase

The proposed increase forms part of the 2026–27 Budget measures.

During parliamentary debate, government members said the additional revenue would contribute to Commonwealth revenue supporting functions including border protection, customs, immigration and biosecurity.

The government has estimated that the measure would raise about $755 million over the four years from 2026–27 to 2029–30.

The charge itself is not specifically limited to funding one individual border program. It forms part of Commonwealth revenue.

Why the Coalition Opposes the Bill

The Coalition has formally stated that it will oppose the Passenger Movement Charge Amendment Bill 2026.

Its stated concerns include the size and timing of the increase, its effect on international travel costs and the implications for Australia's tourism and aviation sectors.

Coalition MPs have also noted that the charge previously increased from $60 to $70 in July 2024, meaning an increase to $80 from January 2027 would take the rate from $60 to $80 in approximately two and a half years.

These are the Coalition's stated policy arguments rather than findings about the actual economic effect of the proposed increase.

Why the Greens Oppose the Bill

The Greens have also stated that they cannot support the bill in its current form.

Their stated concern is that increasing the Passenger Movement Charge would add to the cost of international travel, including travel for holidays and family purposes.

The Greens have argued for different revenue-raising priorities rather than increasing the departure charge.

This means two opposition groupings have publicly stated opposition, although the final parliamentary outcome will depend on votes when the legislation is actually considered.

Why the Senate Matters

Passing the House of Representatives does not make the measure law.

The bill would also need Senate approval.

The current positions expressed by the Coalition and Greens are therefore relevant because Senate passage depends on the final voting positions of senators when the bill reaches that chamber.

However, the legislation has not yet completed the House stage, and parliamentary positions or the text of a bill can change through amendments.

It is therefore more accurate to describe the Senate path as uncertain rather than assume the bill will pass or fail.

A Hypothetical Family Example

Consider a hypothetical family of four travelling overseas after 1 January 2027.

At the existing $70 Passenger Movement Charge, the total charge attributable to the four travellers would be:

4 × $70 = $280.

If the proposed $80 rate became law, the amount would instead be:

4 × $80 = $320.

The difference would be $40 for the family.

For one traveller making six international departures during a year, the additional cost would be $60 if the proposed rate applied to each departure.

These examples assume each traveller is liable for the charge and do not take account of statutory exemptions.

Why Ticket Timing Matters

The proposed commencement date of 1 January 2027 creates a practical issue for tickets sold before that date for travel after it.

The bill's design links the applicable rate to departure timing.

This matters because international tickets can be purchased many months before travel occurs.

Carriers would therefore need to ensure that their systems correctly apply the legislated amount to affected passengers if the bill becomes law.

The final implementation requirements would depend on the legislation ultimately enacted.

Who Is Exempt From the Charge?

The Passenger Movement Charge does not apply to every person leaving Australia.

Existing legislation contains exemptions for specified categories of travellers.

These can include certain children, crew members and other people who satisfy particular statutory conditions.

The proposed bill principally changes the amount of the charge rather than replacing the broader exemption framework.

The Broader Cost of an International Ticket

The Passenger Movement Charge is only one element of the final price of international travel.

Airfares can also incorporate airport charges, security-related costs, airline operating expenses and other taxes or fees depending on the journey.

As a result, a $10 increase in the Passenger Movement Charge would not necessarily translate into an identical percentage increase in the total ticket price.

For example, the impact of an additional $10 is proportionately larger on a low-cost international fare than on a more expensive long-haul ticket.

What to Watch

The immediate issue is the bill's progress through the House of Representatives.

If it passes the House, attention would then move to the Senate and the positions taken by senators during debate and voting.

Possible amendments could also alter the proposal before it completes the parliamentary process.

Until the bill passes both houses and receives Royal Assent, the Passenger Movement Charge remains $70.

The proposed commencement date, if enacted as introduced, is 1 January 2027.