Aviation Consumer Protection Bill 2026, Aviation Consumer Protection (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2026, Aviation Consumer Protection Levy Bill 2026, Aviation Consumer Protection Levy (Collection) Bill 2026

Ms CATHERINE KING (Ballarat—Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government) (18:00): I thank members for their contribution to this debate on the Aviation Consumer Protection Bill 2026 and the related bills. I'll just give the one summing-up speech here. They deliver on the government's commitment from the 2024 Aviation white paper to establish for the first time a dedicated consumer protection framework for aviation passengers in Australia.

I know there are a number of second reading amendments that members moved earlier in the debate, and I'll address those towards the end of my summing up. From the speeches we've heard across the entire chamber, it is absolutely clear that members are passionate about improving the standards across the aviation sector. We are all agreed on that and on ensuring that our constituents get a better deal when they travel through our airports and on our airlines.

This legislative package represents, frankly, the most significant reforms for aviation consumer protection ever introduced in this country. These reforms have been developed through close consultation with consumer advocates, industry and the public to deliver meaningful protections for passengers while also maintaining a competitive and sustainable aviation sector.

The government has taken stakeholder feedback into account to ensure the framework is effective in protecting consumers and holding the sector to account. The Australian Consumer Protection Bill, as you know, establishes the Aviation Consumer Protection Framework, which comprises an impartial aviation consumer ombudsman, which will provide a fair, accessible and independent external dispute resolution service that can assist with resolving individual consumer complaints in relation to the supply of airline and airport services, and the Aviation Consumer Protections Charter, which sets out the minimum standards that aviation consumers can expect from airlines and airports and which will be enforced by a regulator: the Aviation Consumer Protection Authority.

The authority will be responsible for investigating systemic issues facing consumers in the aviation sector. The framework facilitates improved outcomes for consumers on both individual passenger and on an industry-wide bases. The bill also facilitates the publication of reasons for flight delays, cancellations and disruptions.

Finally, the Aircraft Noise Ombudsman, responsible for independent reviews of Airservices Australia and Defence's management of aircraft related noise, will transition to the department and will continue their current work independent of Airservices Australia and Defence. The delivery of the Aviation white paper commitment is about ensuring that the public has confidence in the Aircraft Noise Ombudsman's findings and recommendations independent of the entities that it oversees.

I acknowledge the second reading amendments from the member for Kooyong, the member for Riverina and the member for Ryan. The government is not supporting these second reading amendments. In relation to the member for Riverina's second reading amendment, it's important to remember where we've come from.

Frankly, under their watch there was the collapse of Virgin, the collapse of Tigerair and not a lot of action in dealing with some of these systemic issues we're seeing in the aviation industry. We also saw the collapse of many smaller regional carriers as well as the outsourcing of jobs. We saw the issuing of COVID flight credits instead of refunds, and still we really didn't see enough action in terms of protecting consumers.

We're trying to deal with that now. It's exactly because of these reasons that we had to work to deliver the Aviation white paper in 2024 and why we introduced the Aviation Consumer Protection bills. In relation to regional airlines and airports, we understand the limited operational and financial capacity that often comes with operating the long and thin routes throughout regional Australia.

It's why we've already announced the intention to exempt airports with fewer than one million passengers from the framework. In relation to regional airlines, we believe it is important that all airlines be subject to operationally reasonable and appropriate standards. However, the bill does allow us to exempt smaller regional carriers from levies and fees if it is deemed appropriate.

The importance of our regional aviation sector is also a major reason why we're not proposing to proceed with mandatory compensation at this time. The marginal nature of many of our regional routes means that a mandatory compensation scheme would carry a real risk to the viability of many of these routes and to the services regional Australians rely on. We've seen this play out in practice in places like Europe and in Canada, which have mandatory compensation schemes.

Evidence provided before the Senate inquiry into this bill showed that some unintended outcomes included low-cost carriers exiting the market and the costs of airfares going up. I would note that the member for Riverina's Senate colleague Senator Cadell agreed that a mandatory compensation scheme may not be effective, stating in the Senate inquiry: I see why the prescriptive model may not be fit for purpose.

In developing these reforms, our focus has been on lifting the standards of passenger air travel in Australia. That means providing a set of minimum standards so that passengers get what they pay for and, when disruptions occur, are entitled to remedies that get them back on their journeys as soon as possible. We believe that in developing these reforms for the first time in Australia, it is important to focus on providing remedies for passengers in the moments where they experience disruption rather than a fixed monetary payment some months after the fact.

International experience has also shown that focusing on mandatory compensation has not led to improvements in on-time performance or in cancellation rates. In relation to the member for Kooyong's second reading amendment, we continue to consult extensively with the aviation industry and consumer stakeholders on the charter and the minimum standards. I acknowledge the member's commitment to transparency and can confirm that the most recent draft has been circulated widely with stakeholders and is publicly available on the Australian Parliament House website.

In relation to the member for Ryan's second reading amendment, the government made a commitment in the Aviation white paper to establish an Aircraft Noise Ombudsman that is independent from Airservices Australia. That is a commitment that is delivered through this legislation. The independent Aircraft Noise Ombudsman will have the power to conduct independent investigations into aircraft noise complaints, handling published reports and make recommendations to government about the handling of noise complaints, community consultation processes and the presentation of noise related information.

In relation to the aircraft noise in Brisbane, the government does understand the concerns of residents who live in the vicinity of the airport, and it is an issue that we have taken very seriously. As members know, the new runway at Brisbane Airport opened in 2020 following approval by the former government. We've taken the issue seriously and have implemented a significant number of measures to reduce the impacts of noise on the community.

In addition to establishing the Brisbane Airport Community Airspace Advisory Board, we've changed the timing of flights and flight paths to minimise impacts on residential areas, and we continue to work on additional solutions. I've also issued a direction that requires Airservices to increase the use of SODPROPS during both daytime and night-time operations at Brisbane Airport when meteorological conditions and other operational conditions, including traffic levels, allow for it.

The government is not, and I repeat is not, considering introducing a cap or curfew at Brisbane Airport. We're focused on delivering practical and responsible measures to address issues of aircraft noise and to offer greater protections to travellers. This bill will improve outcomes for consumers and ensure the aviation sector is accountable for the services that they offer and is focused on aviation consumers.

I commend the bills to the House. The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Chesters ): The original question was that this bill be now read a second time, to which the honourable member for Riverina has moved an amendment that all words after 'That' be admitted with the view to substitute other words. Subsequent amendments have been moved by honourable members.

The immediate question is that the amendment moved by the honourable member for Ryan be agreed to. Question negatived. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The question now is that the amendment moved by the honourable member for Kooyong be agreed to.

Question negatived. The SPEAKER: The question is the amendment moved by the honourable member for Riverina be agreed to.