Gai Brodtmann (Canberra, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In September, cancellations for flights from Canberra to Sydney topped the nation at 8.1 per cent. In October, cancellations from flights from Canberra to Sydney reached 6.6 per cent. The national long-term cancellation rate is 1.4 per cent, so what we saw in September and October here in Canberra is five to seven times the average. Qantas alone cancelled 8.8 per cent of its flights. It impacted on as many as 6,000 people travelling along the route. That's 6,000 people who were paying a premium price, some spending hundreds of dollars, for flights between Canberra and Sydney and being left stranded. Canberrans are missing work. Canberrans are missing meetings. Canberrans are missing weddings. Canberrans are missing concerts. Canberrans are missing sporting events. Canberrans are missing funerals. Canberrans are missing anniversaries and birthdays. This is simply not good enough.

Canberra Airport called for the Turnbull government and the consumer commission to step in when airlines have a higher than average flight cancellation rate. What was the response from the government? The government said that it would monitor the situation. On-time flight statistics are published by the government, so it is up to the Turnbull government to make sure airlines are accountable for their performance. The Turnbull government's inaction on this issue lets airlines off the hook and underscores, yet again, its complete and utter contempt for Canberra.