Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

Having asked the question, why don't you give me the respect to answer your question? So just listen to the answer. Because of the downturn in the aviation sector, hit first and hit hardest, when the global pandemic—and it has been a global pandemic—many airline companies right throughout the world have actually closed. We are very fortunate in this country.

Ms Catherine King interjecting—

Here she goes again! At the start of the global pandemic what we wanted to see were two viable competitive airlines flying domestically at the end as we came out of the back of COVID-19. I can say that, thankfully, that's what we have now. Virgin came into the pandemic, saddled with billions of dollars of debt. I'm pleased that through Bain Capital and the assistance that has been provided they are still flying. Next week Virgin will be flying, Rex will be flying, Qantas will be flying. Yes, albeit in a limited fashion, but JobKeeper has helped keep these airlines flying. The Domestic Aviation Network Support has helped those companies fly. The Regional Airline Network Support program has helped those regional aviation companies fly. For those 35 towns that would otherwise not have had respiratory devices, face masks, even medical personnel visit them, they were able to get that assistance thanks to the RANS assistance that was provided. There was $2.7 billion on a sector-wide basis. Everything that we've done has been on a sector-wide basis.

I hope those Qantas workers who don't have a job are able to return to their places of employment.

Ms Catherine King interjecting—

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