Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate take note of all questions asked by coalition members of the government today.

It was yet another question time where not even the scriptwriters for Utopia could have ever dreamed up a script and a story about Labor's aviation policy that is as absurd as it is incompetent. It would be sad if it weren't so important to all Australians and having an impact on all Australians.

Here we went again, debating Minister King's decision to side with Qantas over cheaper airfares for everyday Australians. There have now been nine different and sometimes conflicting excuses as to why this government wants to stifle competition and stop cheaper airfares. As I said, not even the writers of Utopia could have dreamed up a story as ridiculous as this, but sadly, for Australians and for Western Australians, this is absolutely true. Catherine King, when she was asked a question by Sabra Lane on ABC Radio regarding how much the Qatar airport security incident weighed into her decision, said, in answer 1: 'Well, it wasn't a factor in the decision'. A few hours later, the transport minister at her press conference released the government's aviation green paper changing her story. Her next story was: 'It wasn't the only factor, but it was one factor.'

Minister Farrell also advised the chamber during question time, 'I've just travelled through Doha airport on my way back from a holiday a few weeks ago, and I personally don't see any risks.' So, perhaps if the minister actually consulted her colleagues prior to such an important decision, she would have had a more informed view. She wasn't finished yet with her flip-flopping answers. She said last week: 'As you would expect, I consulted colleagues prior to making the decision, but it was my decision.' But her comments conflict with Senator Farrell, who told ABC Radio National, 'I can't say that I specifically had a conversation with her.' The Deputy Prime Minister also told the media that he simply wasn't consulted. There is a sad and sorry theme coming from those opposite, from the government—nine different stories. Utopia couldn't even dream it up.

Let's have a look at the consequences of their disastrous bungling and, quite frankly—I was going to say mistruths—conflicting answers, and that's just from the minister alone. It does matter and it does hurt. It hurts all states and territories. In my case, being a senator for Western Australia, it has significant consequences for every Western Australian who wants to travel, and Western Australians travel a lot. We have to travel a lot given our remoteness.

Travel before COVID was already hideously expensive, and it is now, in many cases, double or more of that. Let's not forget that, when COVID hit, Qantas, our national carrier, closed up shop pretty darn quickly and were very slow to open up shop again. It was airlines like Qatar that brought home Western Australians who had been stranded overseas because of COVID. Critically, they also kept freights coming and going from Western Australia, which was so critically important for our businesses to keep not only their goods going out but also their vital supplies coming in. Quite often we forget this, but I have not forgotten that they were often flying with less than ten passengers onboard but kept flying when our national carrier did not. So it's not much of a reward for their commitment to our state and to our nation.

I've also had a look at data on Perth Airport's website that shows that international passenger numbers still have not recovered to pre-COVID levels. We are a state, as I said, that needs to travel, and you can only assume that those numbers are because people cannot afford to travel out of Western Australia.

WA is already suffering and continues to suffer. I say shame on you, not just for your bungling but also for the impact you're having on Western Australia.