Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you very much, Senator Green. I know that, being based in Cairns, you understand the importance of a competitive aviation sector that delivers to tourists, to workers and to local economies, and finally we have a federal government prepared to deliver. I know that Senator Green, like so many on this side of the chamber, understands the importance of Australia's aviation sector to the economic prosperity of our nation and to the lives of all Australians who rely on this critical service. But, as we all know and as all of you over there in the opposition know, the previous government left the aviation policy space in tatters.

They've had a lot to say about aviation this week, but let's not forget it was the coalition government that gave billions of taxpayer dollars to Qantas for nothing in return. It was the coalition government that stood by as Virgin collapsed into administration only for it to be snatched up by foreign private equity. It was the coalition government that over 10 years oversaw the mass outsourcing of jobs and a labour-hire mess that drove down wages and conditions across the aviation sector.