Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

This is Labor's response. This is Labor's way to help aviation in this country. It adds to their direct costs through fuel, and, of course, it also adds to their indirect costs. It makes it more expensive for many businesses to operate and, therefore, they fly less. All of that is bad news for the aviation sector. This financial year, the report shows that Qantas has already had to pay $114 million in carbon tax, whilst Virgin has paid $54.5 million and Rex has paid $2.3 million. This is at a time when the airlines are losing money and reporting negative balance sheets. They are talking about running at a loss and having to lay people off. Labor says it wants to help. Well, vote to get rid of the carbon tax! Get rid of the carbon tax and give our airlines a fair go. Give them an opportunity to trade profitably again and to provide services to the Australian people. There is a simple way for Labor to help the airlines. Take the advice of John Borghetti, who said that the best thing the government could do to make a difference to the airline industry was to remove the carbon tax. Here is your chance. Get on with it. Vote to get rid of the carbon tax.

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