Gary Gray (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development and Northern Australia) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I thank members for their contribution to the debate on this bill. It is long overdue and will bring Australia’s arrangements for air carrier liability into the 21st century by ratifying the Montreal convention. I acknowledge and appreciate that there is bipartisan support for this legislation.

The Civil Aviation Legislation Amendment (1999 Montreal Convention and Other Measures) Bill 2008 will modernise Australia’s arrangements for air carrier liability. The convention will increase the compensation available to passengers who are injured on international flights. The liability arrangements applying to baggage or cargo that is lost, damaged or delayed will also be updated. The bill will expand the list of family members who are able to enforce liability in the event of a passenger’s death. The Montreal convention will help business by creating efficiencies in the paperwork associated with the transportation of passengers and cargo. The bill is also the result of bipartisan support and of many years of hard work by those members opposite, especially former Minister Truss and former Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile. I commend the bill to the House.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Ordered that this bill be reported to the House without amendment.

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