Official fees for patent matters in Australia are increasing. Most of the fee changes are relatively minor, but there is one rather notable exception: the fees which are due for excess claims at the time of allowance are increasing by a whopping 500%! As of March 1, 2007, official fees at allowance will be A$140 (US$112) for the first twenty claims and A$100 (US$80) for each additional claim.
So Australian patent applications going to grant with large numbers of claims will become rather pricey as of March 1st.