CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS

Ms SCRYMGOUR (Lingiari) (16:03): I rise today to talk about Australia's most remote communities, the Indian Ocean Territories. The Indian Ocean Territories are an important strategic and cultural part of this country. They represent the very best of modern Australia—a strong and connected local community grounded in their diversity.

These communities are resilient. They know how to work together and have deep respect for what it means to be Australian. But often their distance makes them feel overlooked, and government must do better for these territories.

During my recent visit, I met with local leaders to discuss Qantas's baggage allowance changes. Without proper community consultation, Qantas has reneged on its commitment and changed the rules for Islanders. This means people who rely on air freight to access essential goods have had the rug pulled out from under them.

Islanders are rightly angry and are frustrated. We all expect better from Australia's national airline. Qantas needs to rebuild its social licence.

Islanders are mobilising against these changes and working to have their voices heard in the boardroom of Qantas, and I will do everything I can to represent these voices. A key challenge is economic transition. We have to, with the community, build a robust local economy that provides quality jobs and a future for people on the islands.

Last week I met with innovative and resilient local businesses on Christmas Island. When you're 2,900 kilometres away from the mainland, you have to navigate hurdles that other businesses on the mainland never have to. From unreliable food deliveries, access to skilled labour and high costs, in the face of these challenges businesses are adapting, but they need our support.

I met with the Christmas Island Tourism Association, who are doing a fantastic job at advocating for a tourism led future and supporting local operators. To build an economic future and a tourism industry, it must rely on secure access. They need Qantas to come to the table to support this.

We also need to ensure maritime deliveries are regular and reliable. On Cocos Keeling Islands, the community is at the forefront of climate change. Erosion and rising sea levels are causing major challenges for services and the community.

As Australia looks to discuss climate change on the global stage, we must look after our own people, who should be at the centre of this, and all of the communities, particularly Cocos Keeling, which has been fighting and at the forefront of climate change. I am making sure that our government listens and supports that community to deal with the rising sea levels and all of the coming dangers that are encroaching on the fragile systems on the atoll out at Cocos Island.