ADJOURNMENT
Senator POLLEY (Tasmania) (19:37): I rise to speak about the Albanese Labor government's commitment to a safer, fairer and more accountable aviation industry through the establishment of a safer skies commission. For too long, aviation in Australia has been allowed to drift away from what should be core purposes: serving the public's interest. Air travel is not a luxury for many Australians.
It connects families, workers, businesses, regional communities and essential services. In a country as vast as ours, reliable and affordable aviation is part of the national fabric. Yet, too often, passengers have faced higher fares, reduced services, unexplained cancellations, poor communications and practices that simply do not pass the pub test let alone a rationality test.
We have seen deeply concerning conduct in the industry. Australians have seen major airlines make substantial profits while families struggle to afford a flight to see loved ones or to attend medical appointments, weddings or funerals or to travel for work. We have seen accusations of price gouging, the selling of tickets to flights that are already cancelled and the 'ghost flights' scandal that undermined public confidence.
We have seen passengers treated as an afterthought, workers pushed harder and regional communities left wondering whether the services they rely on will still be there tomorrow. That's why Labor believes oversight is necessary. A safer skies commission would help bring workers, passengers, airlines, airports, regulators and government to the same table.
It would be about setting standards, improving accountability, strengthening safety, supporting fair competition and making sure decisions in aviation are made in the national interest, not in the interest of executive bonuses or shareholder returns. This is not just a consumer issue; it is a workers' issue. It is a safety issue.
It is a regional issue. It is a fairness issue. Aviation workers keep this country moving.
Ground crew, baggage handlers, cabin crew, pilots, cleaners, caterers, freight workers, refuellers and security staff all play a pivotal and vital role. They work early mornings, late nights, weekends and public holidays. They work under pressure, often in difficult and physically demanding environments.
They deserve a secure job, fair pay, safe rosters and respect. Too often, however, the people who make aviation possible have paid the price for decisions made at the top. Outsourcing labour hire arrangements, fragmented bargaining and cost cutting have been used to drive down wages and conditions.
Workers doing the same job have been paid differently. Experienced staff have been pushed out of the industry. Short staffing and insecure work have placed unreasonable pressure on the workforce and ultimately on the travelling public.
I want to acknowledge the tireless work of the Transport Workers' Union, its members, its delegates, its officials and particularly the National Secretary of the TWU, Michael Kaine, for his determination and his strong advocacy on behalf of aviation workers across Australia but also my Senate colleagues Tony Sheldon, Glenn Sterle and the late Steve Hutchinson.
The TWU have been at the forefront of the fight for better pay, safer conditions, secure jobs and a stronger voice for workers in this essential industry. They stood up when workers were outsourced. They stood up when pay and conditions were driven down.
They stood up when passengers and workers alike were let down by poor corporate conduct—so a big shout-out to them. It's the Albanese Labor government who understands that strong industries are built on strong standards. We have already acted to close loopholes; support same job, same pay; and restore fairness to workplaces after a decade of neglect.
A safer skies commission is a further step towards rebuilding confidence in aviation and ensuring the industry works for all, not just a few. This is such an important industry for my home state of Tasmania. This commitment is about more than regulation.
It's about restoring balance. It's about saying that workers deserve respect, passengers deserve honesty and communities deserve reliable services. I congratulate the government for this initiative.
It's a good initiative. It will benefit all Australians.