Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Bendigo for her question and for her tireless championing of regional aviation, particularly the investment in Bendigo Airport. Of course, this government is implementing the most significant reforms to Australian aviation in a decade. Over recent years the performance of our aviation sector has not been good enough—poor passenger services; customers being left waiting for refunds; travellers with a disability facing shameful treatment. Our government saw the need to act and we are acting. Through the aviation white paper, along with our major reforms to Sydney airport, we are increasing consumer protection through the creation of the first ombudsperson to cover the sector. We are creating a charter of consumer rights, we are increasing transparency on airline performance, we are increasing access to Sydney Airport to boost competition and, of course, we are building Western Sydney International Airport. Choice have said that they 'strongly welcome' the reforms, the Tourism and Transport Forum called our reforms a 'significant step forward' towards creating a stronger aviation sector, the Airports Association said that our reforms put 'passengers first', and the ASU said that this is our chance to make Australian airlines 'the envy of the world'.

I'm asked what approaches the government has rejected. What we have rejected, frankly, is the lazy and tired approach that those opposite took when they were in government. When they were in government they did absolutely nothing to reform aviation. They didn't act on consumer rights, they didn't act on disability rights and they didn't act on competition.

Of course, we all woke up this morning to see the shadow transport spokesperson having a bit of a big idea. She's decided that she wants divestiture of Jetstar, breaking up aviation and seeing Jetstar go the way of Tigerair. You would think any serious political party would have thought deeply about such a significant policy, but this thought bubble didn't last the light of day. While Australians were still having breakfast, the member for New England and Senator Hume refused to back it in, quite rightly, and just after breakfast the Leader of the Nationals quite rightly killed it dead forever. That's it. He not only confirmed that it hadn't been to shadow cabinet; he said, 'Well, it's not coalition policy, because we haven't got the evidence.'

By lunchtime, not even Senator McKenzie backed Senator McKenzie, who was forced to front a press conference to walk back her comments. This is another evidence-free and damaging thought bubble from people who have proved once again why they can't be trusted with managing Australia's economy. The only divestment the Liberal Party should have a good look at and now consider is divesting themselves of this loose National Party.

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