You'll Soon Pay More to Leave Australia
The Australian government will increase the Passenger Movement Charge payable when departing Australia to $70 from 1 July 2024.
www.australianfrequentflyer.com.auHere’s what I could gather about the latest developments on Australia’s Passenger Movement Charge (PMC) and how it’s evolving.
Direct answer
- The PMC is planned to rise from A$70 to A$80 for all departures from Australia, effective 1 January 2027. This represents a further increase on top of prior changes and is part of the federal budget measures.[1][2]
Context and what’s changed
- Previous increases: The PMC was raised to A$70 per passenger starting 1 July 2024, and that rate had been in place since 2017. The 2024 rise was described as broadly in line with inflation.[3][5]
- Current proposal: The upcoming January 2027 increase to A$80 applies to all travelers departing Australia, including Australians and international visitors, regardless of when the travel was booked. The government has framed this as part of budget measures to fund border processing and related activities.[2]
- Industry reaction: Tourism and travel industry bodies have expressed concern that higher exit charges could dampen travel demand and impact tourism revenue, noting a lack of consultation around the change.[2]
What this means for travelers
- Cost impact: If you’re departing Australia from 1 January 2027 onward, you’ll pay an extra A$10 per passenger (PMC rising from A$70 to A$80). For families or groups, the incremental cost scales with the number of travelers.[2]
- Timing and applicability: The increase applies to departures on or after the effective date, and is not tied to when the ticket was booked. This means even if you purchased a ticket before the announcement, the higher PMC could apply if you’re departing after the date.[2]
Helpful notes
- The PMC is a tax/levy specifically tied to international departures from Australia and is separate from other travel taxes or airline fees.[3]
- Budget papers project the revenue impact over multiple years, which is part of broader fiscal measures. If you’re planning travel, it’s prudent to budget for the higher PMC amount for departures in 2027 and beyond.[2]
Would you like a quick comparison of PMC history and a short forecast of how this interacts with typical travel costs, or a concise checklist to verify PMC inclusion when you’re booking flights? I can also pull the exact budget papers or official government pages for you if you’d like links.[3][2]