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

Thank you, Senator Green. Unlike 10 years of coalition government, the Albanese government wants an aviation sector that maintains Australia's world-leading safety and security standards and provides secure jobs now and into the future. A sector needs to be reliable, competitive and affordable, supported by a robust consumer rights framework. That's why the aviation green paper—something the last coalition government never bothered to get around to—looks to stronger consumer protections, improvements to complaint-handling processes and improved accessibility for consumers living with disability. Not one of those things did the coalition deal with in its 10 years in government, for all of their road-to-Damascus conversion on matters of aviation.

Through this process we're also seeking to understand whether options pursued in other jurisdictions, such as a customer rights centre, a charter or a stronger ombudsman model, would deliver benefits to Australia's aviation sector. Every Australian travelling by plane here in Australia or overseas deserves to be safe and respected, and that's why we're taking this issue seriously.