Government plan to fast-track refugees in exchange for potential $19,000 fee

By Nicole Hasham
Updated August 1 2015 - 8:08am, first published July 31 2015 - 8:48pm
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop with a family of Sudanese refugees in Amman.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop with a family of Sudanese refugees in Amman.
Refugee Council of Australia chief Paul Power says the proposals advantage refugees who have relatives in Australia with financial means. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Refugee Council of Australia chief Paul Power says the proposals advantage refugees who have relatives in Australia with financial means. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Refugee Council of Australia chief Paul Power says the proposals advantage refugees who have relatives in Australia with financial means. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Refugee Council of Australia chief Paul Power says the proposals advantage refugees who have relatives in Australia with financial means. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

A refugee's visa application would be fast-tracked if they paid a potential $19,000 fee and their family in Australia promised to cover health and welfare costs, under proposals the Abbott government is weighing to cut resettlement costs.