Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The Transport Workers' Union has long championed the rights of aviation workers striving for safer, more secure skies and fairer working conditions across Australia's airports. As the aviation industry rebounds from recent challenges, the TWU's campaign has become even more vital. Their mission is clear: to improve pay and conditions for ground crew, flight crew and all those who help keep our skies safe and our flights running.

Major airlines, including Virgin and Qantas, are reporting billions of dollars of profit, demonstrating a robust recovery in the sector. They are charging more for seats than ever before, they cancel flights at any time without notice and they are even asking customers who already have a seat on the plane to bid for an upgraded seat. Yet the workers who make these profits possible—ground crew, baggage handlers, cabin crew and pilots—are often left behind. The average wage for many aviation workers sits between $45,000 and $50,000 per year, barely enough to meet the cost of living. This stark disparity has become a focal point in the TWU's campaign as it highlights the urgent need for meaningful change to how workers are valued and compensated.

Today I heard from Ebanie, who is a cabin manager at Virgin Australia. Ebanie has been instrumental in the TWU's filing of an application to vary the Cabin Crew Award because she isn't being paid enough for the work she does and can't get ahead. She can barely stay afloat on this award. She's had 23 years of experience. The reality for ground and flight crew is far from glamorous. Many face underpayment, insecure contracts and tough working conditions. Restrictions on working from certain locations, such as Hobart in Tasmania, mean that workers often have limited options, forcing them to accept lower wages or relocate. The industry's frequent flight cancellations and delays add further strain, making it difficult to plan, earn a stable income or maintain a healthy work-life balance. I also heard from Matthew, who has been affected by the regional base closures in Canberra and in Hobart. His case is a strong example of the need for an independent decision-maker in these types of decisions, because they are abjectly unfair.

Let's face it. While frontline staff struggle, executive salaries at Virgin and Qantas tell a very different story. CEOs and board members enjoy generous remuneration packages, often in the millions of dollars, outstripping the pay of those who keep the airlines running. This imbalance is deeply concerning, particularly as workers' efforts are crucial to the industry's ongoing success.

The other issue that really concerned me was the fact that there are so many workers in all areas training baggage handlers, engineers and pilots—we know there's a shortage of air traffic controllers—who've lost so much experience. You actually have trainers who have had less than 20 per cent experience trying to teach those new people that are coming on. It used to be a ratio of 80 to 20; now it's 20 to 80. That is a real concern. We've got a very good safety record in this country. That's at risk. And, as I said, if the airlines are making such a huge profit, we really do owe it to those workers who keep a very safe, successful industry. They should be remunerated with what they deserve.

I want to give a big shout-out to the TWU, particularly the national secretary, Michael Kaine, for bringing his delegates here and telling their real stories which are so powerful for senators and members and their staff to understand the issues that they're confronted with. Things do not change unless people speak up, and that's why it's so important that we take advantage of the opportunity to hear firsthand from these delegates. Their stories are real, and we know on this side of the chamber that we will always stand up for Australian workers. We will stand up for fair wages and good conditions, because it's also part of our DNA. (Time expired)

Senate adjourned at 19:44