Meryl Swanson (Paterson, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. What steps is the Albanese Labor government taking to ensure that the Australian aviation sector delivers better outcomes for Australian travellers? Are there any risks to these better outcomes being delivered, Minister?

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

I thank the member for Paterson for her question and for her tireless advocacy for our investment in the Newcastle Airport. Our government is, of course, in the midst of an ambitious series of aviation reforms. The Aviation white paper we've released includes 56 policies that will boost consumer rights, increase transparency and scrutiny of our airlines and our airports, and deliver better outcomes for travellers with a disability.

Our reforms to Sydney airport, the most significant undertaking since the 1990s, which are already being implemented will boost access to new entrants, crack down on anticompetitive behaviour and grow competition in our most important airport.

We're also building a new airport at Western Sydney that will massively grow access to the Sydney Basin and will significantly change the aviation landscape, particularly when it comes to freight. We're working closely with the voluntary administrators at Rex to maintain regional connectivity, including through our regional flights guarantee.

We are taking a considered and consistent approach designed to put downward pressure on airfares, which, despite some hyper-inflated rhetoric, are already back down below pre-COVID levels. We're delivering a more responsive and more competitive aviation sector for all Australians, and it couldn't be a bigger contrast to what those opposite are doing. We are introducing slot reforms, which they did not do; increasing transparency, which they did not do. The only consistency they've had when it comes to their bumbling around in aviation policy is, frankly, their inconsistency.

Yesterday morning, Senator McKenzie threatened the coalition would force divestiture of Jetstar. An hour later, the Leader of the Nationals said it wasn't coalition policy because 'we haven't got the evidence'. Then just before lunchtime, according to coalition sources, the Leader of the Opposition sent Senator McKenzie out to clean up the growing mess. Yesterday afternoon, we thought that was the end of it—a bit of fun in question time, draw a line under it—but there she was again, out there. A free thought bubble from the rogue National Party senator was killed off by lunchtime by the Liberals, but, by the evening, Senator McKenzie was at it again, contradicting her own midday press conference, doubling down. Yesterday, we had Senator McKenzie agreeing with herself in the morning, disagreeing with herself by the afternoon and then agreeing with herself again by the evening as well. Well, frankly, what is going on over there? You know, who is running this show? Senator McKenzie gives plenty of us plenty of advice to everybody else, everybody else, including to those opposite. Here's some in return: when you're in a big hole, stop digging.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On that note, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.