AusCheck fees

Addendum to the AusCheck 2010-2012 Cost Recovery Impact Statement

On 1 October 2011, AusCheck amended its fee schedule for background checking as detailed in the 2010-2012 Cost Recovery Impact Statement (CRIS). The amendment was made to incorporate fee increases by AusCheck’s checking partners.

Checking partner fee increases

The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) advised that on 1 October 2011, its fees for an ASIO check would rise from $12 to $30 per check. ASIO advised that this revised fee represented a more accurate reflection of the costs incurred to conduct a security check.

CrimTrac similarly advised that it would increase its fees for criminal history checking from $20.60 to $23.00 per assessment from 1 January 2012 to better reflect the costs incurred with providing the service.

Cost recovery

Since 3 September 2007, AusCheck has operated in a cost recovery environment in accordance with the Government’s cost recovery policy and guidelines. The CRIS process represents an ongoing commitment by the Australian Government to ensure that fair and accurate costs are recovered from those who pay for its services.

AusCheck’s current CRIS continues until 30 June 2012.  It provides for fee revision in a limited range of circumstances, including where checking partner costs are amended.

To implement a revised fee schedule, AusCheck has produced an Addendum to the CRIS. 

To avoid the administrative burden of introducing two independent fee increases, the Department of Finance and Deregulation has advised that one single fee increase be initiated, averaging CrimTrac’s fee increase for the remainder of the 2010 -2012 CRIS. This action complies with the Australian Government's Cost Recovery Guidelines.

Revised fee schedule

On 1 October 2011, AusCheck’s fee for a two year background increased from $81 to $101.  The fee for a four year Maritime Security Identification Card (MSIC) increased from $160 to $200.  The AusCheck component of the cost of a background check has not increased.

The revised fees are expected to be sustained until AusCheck’s next scheduled fee review on 1 July 2012 for the 2012-2014 CRIS.

AusCheck’s revised fee structure from 1 October 2011 is as follows.

FEES (Fees are exempt from GST)	AusCheck Costs	ASIO & CrimTrac Cost	Total Background Check Cost	Total Background Check Cost with DIAC Check
Background Check for applications	$48.40	$52.20	$101	$105
MSIC 4 year Background Check for applications	$94.80	$104.40	$200	$204