Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, that question highlights what happens when you have a predetermined supplementary question. I will read out again what I said:

This government will not agree to anything that sacrifices the safety of passengers.

Nothing can be clearer than that but, when you are an opposition devoid of any policy positions, you have to try to whip up a bit of hysteria around any possibility just to get a bit of traction in the media. As to whether the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s views on this matter should be subjected to a further review by a Senate inquiry, I will put that matter to the Minister for Transport and Regional Services for his consideration.