A young woman has exposed the flaws in her new Australian passport, claiming it is “flimsy” and low quality despite being the most expensive in the world.
Natalie Vellozzi, 28, from Sydney, posted a video on tiktok where he compared his old and new passports and accused the government of skimping on quality.
“The quality definitely does not match the price of this passport,” he said.
After the Sydney woman placed both passports side by side, the difference could be seen immediately, with the cover of the new one curling upwards.
‘This is my old passport that I have had for 10 years. It’s definitely better quality,” Ms. Vellozzi said.
‘This new one looks like it was literally printed at Officeworks. I’ve had it for a day and it’s already deforming, it’s already bending.’
Australia’s new R series passport costs a staggering $398 after a 15 per cent price increase in July, making it the most expensive in the world.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) trumpeted the launch of the new passport last year, boasting that it was made in Australia.
Natalie Vellozzi, 28 (pictured) from Sydney, compared her new passport (left) to her old one (right) after receiving the new one a day earlier.
The 28-year-old financial services worker (pictured) said the quality of the new passport appeared poor and appeared to be printed at Officeworks.
“The next generation passport is packed with advanced security features designed to keep Australians’ identities safe,” the department said.
But since its publication, questions have been raised about the quality of the expensive document.
Vellozzi told Daily Mail Australia the drop in quality is very noticeable.
“Maybe the material they’re using is different,” he said.
‘But I noticed as soon as I received it, it was already curling and bending.
“I think when they did it and put it together, they didn’t put enough weight on it to flatten it properly.”
The financial services industry worker added that the new front identification page is now made of plastic.
“I thought someone might take this,” he said.
“In the previous passport it was laminated paper and now I feel like it will tear.”
The 28-year-old said even the way the expensive document was delivered left a lot to be desired.
“They put it in a paper envelope, like when you get a letter from your bank,” he said.
The new R-series Australian passport is thinner than previous ones and folds outwards (pictured, a new passport)
“There was no cover, there was no bubble wrap or anything; it was just stuffed into the paper envelope.
“They should be a little more careful because it could be delivered on a very rainy day and it would be damaged.”
The traveler argued that the delivery should have been better, even if it had only been placed in a padded bag, considering she paid $400 for the document.
“I think in 2014 I paid about $250,” he said.
“I was very surprised by the price increase and that it is the most expensive passport in the world.”
Vellozzi is disappointed that the passport no longer comes in a plastic cover and also said the pages are thinner.
“It seems like a cheaper passport. The quality just looks cheap,’ he said.
“It feels like something you did the night before your schoolwork that you forgot about and has to turn in the next day, so you rush to do it.”
The 28-year-old also said the new Australian passport now comes with a “strange” ribbon.
“There’s a little bit of fabric inside the passport and I think someone forgot to cut it off and left it there,” he said.
“It’s not secured to anything, it just seems a little strange.”
Vellozzi said he understands the price increase could be because the new passport has added security features, but he feels the cost is still “insane.”
“These security measures should have already been taken and that cost should not be passed on to the taxpayer,” he said.
“Considering our taxes are so high, I feel like the government is taking advantage of us at every angle.”