Cancelling Passports

Question

Senator PATERSON: I will let other colleagues pursue that further in Trade tomorrow. Moving on to a different topic, I have questions relating to passports. Section 14 of the Australian Passports Act allows the Foreign minister to refuse or cancel passports. How many has the minister refused or cancelled since May 2022? Ms Veneros: Sorry, what was the date? Senator PATERSON: Since this government was elected, or since the minister became the Foreign minister. Ms Veneros: And it was refused or cancelled? Senator PATERSON: Both. If you can break it down, that's even better. Ms Veneros: In relation to cancellations, the data I hold is in relation to law enforcement and security together, if that's okay with you. Senator PATERSON: Of course. Ms Veneros: It's actually sections 14 and 12 and section 13 of the act. Senator PATERSON: Okay. Ms Veneros: For cancellations, in 2022-23, it was 50; in 2023-24, it was 63; in 2024-25, it was 30; and, in 2025-26, it was 43. In relation to refusals, in 2022-23, it was 14; in 2023-24, it was 10; in 2024-25, it was seven; and, in 2025-26 to date, it is two. Senator PATERSON: And you're not able to break it down more granularly according to each part of the act? That's just an aggregated figure for each of those different provisions of the act? Ms Veneros: I do have some granulation. I could provide that on notice.

Answer

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