David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Edwards for his supplementary question. There is one very important impediment to preserving Australian jobs in the aviation industry in this country. We all know what that is. It is the carbon tax and its repeal. This is a highly competitive industry. Let us just take the regional airline Rex. Rex is paying $1.3 million in the first half of this financial year for the carbon tax. It is absolutely dead money and a millstone around its neck. Virgin is paying $27 million in the first half of this year for the carbon tax. Qantas is paying $106 million for the carbon tax for the year.

The point is that someone needs to get off the hose so these airlines can compete properly. I ask the Labor Party to consider their position. (Time expired)