(1) If an amount is payable under the regulations by a person who is or was an approved sponsor in relation to a sponsorship obligation, the person is not liable to pay to the Commonwealth more than the lesser of:
(a) if a limit is prescribed by the regulations--that limit; and
(b) the actual costs incurred by the Commonwealth.
Example: If the Commonwealth incurs costs in locating a person, the person who is or was an approved sponsor is not liable to pay to the Commonwealth more than the total amount of those costs or a lesser amount (if a limit is prescribed in the regulations and that limit is less than the actual costs incurred by the Commonwealth).
(2) The Minister may, by legislative instrument, specify one or more methods for working out the actual costs incurred by the Commonwealth in relation to a sponsorship obligation.
(3) If an amount is payable under the regulations by a person who is or was an approved sponsor in relation to a sponsorship obligation, the person (the sponsor ) is taken not to have satisfied the sponsorship obligation if a visa holder or former visa holder, or a person on behalf of a visa holder or former visa holder, reimburses the sponsor or another person for all or part of the amount.