Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Hansard source

I can inform Senator Bushby that the government is working to give Qantas the freedom to remain a strong and competitive airline that flies more Australians and employs more Australians.

Australians want a strong and competitive Qantas. The existing Qantas Sale Act places restrictions on Qantas that advantages its competitors and disadvantages Qantas. As soon as possible, legislation will be introduced to remove these restrictions. Removing these disadvantages is the best way to ensure Qantas can secure Australian jobs now and into the future.

These reforms will not only give Qantas the best chance of continued growth but they will also give Qantas workers the best chance of job security. A viable airline makes for viable jobs. What is good for Qantas will also be good for its workers.

If Labor is genuinely concerned about job losses, it should support the government's decision to unshackle Qantas. As Martin Ferguson said some 12 years ago, 'Labor is on the record as having an open mind on the relaxing of the 49 per cent foreign ownership cap on Qantas, and we recognise that without significant capital investment the airline is putting at risk its future.' Regrettably, based on comments to date, Labor would have the Australian public believe that simply throwing money at an airline will be the panacea to its every ill. We want to give Qantas a hand up, but Labor wants to give it a taxpayer-funded handout.

Twenty years ago, former finance minister Ralph Willis rightly said that the Commonwealth cannot countenance the possibility of it still being potentially liable for a $1 billion Qantas debt. Today, Labor, want a $3 billion— (Time expired)