URGENT SUPPORT FOR AVIATION INDUSTRY NEEDED

As the nation works to contain the Coronavirus outbreak, the Federal Government must urgently support Australia’s aviation industry and the 50,000 Australians employed within it.

Today the Federal Government announced a large step up in quarantine and travel restrictions with 14 days of universal self isolation for all international arrivals and further increases in social distancing measures.

While these measures are necessary for public health, the Federal Government must urgently address the significant consequences for our aviation sector.

With conditions changing rapidly and no end in sight, the Federal Government must urgently provide all necessary support to ensure Australia has a vibrant aviation sector once the Coronavirus outbreak has passed.

While the Government announced a $1 billion regional and community fund to support sectors disproportionately affected by the Coronavirus outbreak, it did not include support for the aviation industry.

When the fund was announced, Australia’s two major airlines had already responded to the Coronavirus outbreak with capacity reductions.

Since that time additional travel restrictions, quarantine measures and ongoing uncertainty have further decreased demand for air transport.

Given the gravity of the situation, I have written to the Deputy Prime Minister requesting urgent support to the aviation industry from the $1 billion fund established to support disproportionately affected sectors.

Labor continues to play a constructive, responsible, supportive role during this outbreak and that includes injecting a sense of urgency when it is lacking or absent.