[Gollywobbler]

Hi KazzE

My Dad is on a year tourist visa at the moment and we are hoping that we can put his application in before Sept when it runs out, we have been told that he will then be able to get a bridging visa (I think) and so stay in Oz while it is processed, he will be told to leave the country when it is about to be granted and will probably go to NZ or Singapore for a holiday.

Tread carefully, honey. Is Dad's tourist visa subject to Condition 8503? If it is, then it will not be possible to make a valid application for a Contributory Parent visa for him whilst he remains on Australian soil. Please see here:
Australian Immigration Fact Sheet 52c. Imposition of Visa Condition 8503 - "No Further Stay"

It is rare for DIAC to permit a stay of 12 unbroken months in Oz without imposibg Condition 8503, so you need to check this very carefully indeed.

If Condition 8503 has not been imposed, what is stopping Dad from making a Contributory Parent or Contributory Aged Parent application before 30th June 2008, so as to beat the fees increase the following day?

PM me or e-mail me about this, I suggest, so that we di not hi-jack Granada's thread with this separate issue.

Best wishes

Gill