(1) The charge limit in relation to a visa application made during the financial year beginning on 1 July 1996 is $12,500 , unless the visa application is for a contributory parent visa .
(2) The charge limit for a later financial year is calculated by multiplying the charge limit for the financial year before the later year by the greater of 1.0 or the indexation factor worked out using the following formula:
where:
"CPI quarter" means a period of 3 months ending on 31 March, 30 June, 30 September or 31 December.
"index number" means the All Groups Consumer Price Index number (being the weighted average of the 8 capital cities) published by the Australian Statistician.
(3) The indexation factor is to be calculated to 3 decimal places, but increased by .001 if the 4th decimal place is more than 4.
(4) Calculations under subsection ( 2):
(a) are to be made using only the index numbers published in terms of the most recently published index reference period for the Consumer Price Index; and
(b) are to disregard index numbers that are published in substitution for previously published index numbers (except where the substituted numbers are published to take account of changes in the index reference period ).
(5) If an amount worked out under the formula in subsection ( 2) is not a multiple of $5, the amount is to be rounded as follows:
(a) if the amount exceeds the nearest lower multiple of $5 by $2.50 or more--round the amount up to the nearest higher multiple of $5;
(b) in any other case--round the amount down to the nearest lower multiple of $5.