Perusing the Passport office site it is evident that single, essentially unusable, number is the single point of contact for routine as well as very urgent issues.
One has to wonder if an Aussie showed up at the departure gate or an international immigration point with a screen shot showing ‘DFAT is experiencing a higher volume than usual and apologises for any inconvenience’ and would they get on/through? Would QF or any airline refund or credit a non-refundable international fare if DFAT did not deliver in, say, 3 months?
No need to answer - no level of insufficient service seems too good for us for ‘only’ $308 renewal fee, and if it really urgent where one needs under 2-days turnaround ring that helpful phone number for arranging it.
OT but for cost comparisons to some other expensive passports click to this CNN article or for a global comparison this list is in $USD.
