Brian Mitchell (Lyons, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

[by video link] Two weeks ago, I stood in this place to report that 38 aviation workers in Tasmania had been stood down due to mainland lockdowns and cancelled flights. Today, I sadly report to the House that the number of aviation workers stood down at Hobart and Launceston airports is now more than 100 and not one of them is eligible for the government's aviation support package. An aviation support package that fails to support aviation workers is a sick joke to play on people.

Flights have dropped in Tasmania because of lockdowns on the mainland. Lockdowns have occurred because of the Prime Minister's failure to secure vaccines and create national quarantine. Tasmanian aviation workers and businesses like Par Avion are suffering as a direct result of the Prime Minister's failure. This is the Prime Minister's mess and he needs to fix it.

Swissport, whose employees conduct all ground operations in Tasmania, warns: 'We are likely to see many flights grounded in November, December, January and February.' Swissport fears its stood-down workers will find other jobs, and it takes at least six months to recruit, train and accredit new staff. Grounded flights will be a disaster for the recovery of Tasmania's struggling tourism sector. The Prime Minister must fix it and extend aviation support to all aviation workers, and do it today.