$10 Charge For Americans on Cairns Airport Shuttle commencing 2 April 2025

​Queensland Tourism Operator CairnsAirportShuttle.net is today announcing a $10 surcharge per American for all Americans travelling on our shuttles between Cairns Airport and Port Douglas.

The surcharge will apply from 2 April 2025.  (3 April 2025: The $10 surcharge has been paused for 90 days). 

Donald Trump is superstitious and does not want to commence new reciprocal tariffs on 1 April because they would make him look like a fool. CairnsAirportShuttle.net is super appreciative of this strong leadership and so we will also follow the guidance of this strong man.

Americans will be required to answer a simple yes no question: Do you have American Citizenship? If the answer is no then no $10 surcharge. If the answer is yes a $10 surcharge will apply.

We have sought legal advice and understand that this decision by CairnsAirportShuttle.net does not breach any test of reasonableness or that the charge is discriminatory.

This is instead a special measure for the purposes of s 8 of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth)* to help Americans who are disadvantaged by having Donald Trump as their President. The special measure will also include a free advice about how to handle local Australian wildlife. ie Don’t do it!

We do love our American friends and suggest, as President Trump does, that if they wish to avoid paying the new $10 surcharge on transfers between Cairns Airport and Port Douglas they can come and live in Australia!

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* Prime Minister John Howard used this same ‘special measure’ legal basis during the Northern Territory in 2007. CairnsAirportShuttle.net understands that the $10 fee does fly against convention, but in March 2025 there seems no place that established conventions or contractual agreements actually apply to anything to do with the USA. CairnsAirportShuttle.net will shortly establish a charity to fully comply with S 8 RDA requirements.