Continued the debate
Hastie stated that the Coalition would oppose the bill, arguing that the government had not made a sufficient case for increasing the charge by 14.3 per cent after only 212 years since the last adjustment. Hastie noted that the increase would generate an extra $745 million beyond the forward estimates but criticised the lack of guarantees that this revenue would improve border services or infrastructure. Hastie emphasised that key sectors, including aviation and tourism, were not meaningfully consulted, leading to implementation issues for airlines selling tickets well in advance. Hastie argued that the measure added unnecessary costs to an industry already facing pressure, without delivering corresponding benefits to passengers.