April 22, 2025 • 10 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
You are listening to Mix one oh four point nine.
It's just after nine to twenty and this morning it's
being announced that the Dutton coalition government they've pledged cheaper
top end airfares by removing laws that prevent foreign airlines
from landing in Darwen to collect passengers for domestic destinations.
Now they say the removal of cabotage restrictions would only
(00:22):
apply to Darwin and allow the international airlines to carry
domestic passengers and freight to and from Eastern capital cities
like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra. I think for any
of us who've caught a red eye flight out of Darwin,
which is pretty much all of them at this point
in time, we're probably going to be pretty interested to
hear exactly what this announcement means. And joining me in
(00:46):
the studio is the Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and
Regional Development, Senator Bridget mackenzie. Good to have you in
the studio.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Great to be back in Darwin.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Now tell me what exactly is the plan around cabotage
for and I mean it's something that we hear about
a lot of people may not understand exactly.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
What it is though exactly so what we've been hearing
about is the price of airfares out of Darwin to
connect with family and friends on the East Coast, to
actually conduct business or even conversely to get tourism back
into the top end, has been hamstrung by the serviceability
(01:25):
of the major airlines. You've effectively got a duopoly with
Quanus Group and Virgin. Prices have gone through the roof,
and as you rightfully state, you know you have to
get the kids up at eleven pm at night to
actually get them on a plane. Not to mention those
who've been sitting in the pub for four hours before
(01:46):
they get on a flight.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Right, and then they can get themselves in trouble and
not able to get able.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
So we've been really clear in opposition that we want
to have an aviation system across the board where Australians
can afford to buy a ticket. You're playing takes off
and lands on time and your bag arrives in the
same place you do. Doesn't sound like rocket science, but
unfortunately under the Labor Party it's been really, really difficult.
So we have developed a policy to take the red
(02:12):
tape away that stops international carriers stopping off as they're
literally flying overhead on their way to the East coast,
stopping off in Darwin, maybe unloading some international tourists to
go down check out the rock off to Kakado for
a couple of days, and also allow that extra seat
capacity for Territorians to jump on at a cheaper price,
(02:36):
maybe a better time of the day, but to give
more choice and lower prices. And we think this is
a way to actually put more competition in the market
for Territorians, drive down prices and increase choice around flight times.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
Look, it is something that we talk about very regularly
on this show. I can tell you firsthand that you know,
like a couple of weekends ago, I had to take
my kids away for sporting. Perth cost four thousand dollars
for a family to get there and back. It's a
lot of money. But if you want your children to
have opportunities, if you want your family to have opportunities,
that's just one part of it.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
You know.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Then when you talk about families trying to travel away
to see, you know, their love ones, so maybe living
to state that's right, it's a ridiculous amount of money
that we're paying. And then we're leaving at one o'clock
in the morning. It's really tough. I guess the question is,
if this is going to make such an impact, why
hasn't it happened sooner?
Speaker 2 (03:30):
I think it's a really good question, and I think
we've seen the Prime Minister Anthony Alberanzi has a very
close relationship with Quanas Alan Joyce.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
You reckon, that's why.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Absolutely absolutely. I'll tell you who doesn't want this to happen,
Quanas and virgin I know that because we asked in
a Senate inquiry over our period in opposition. You know
who does want it Local territorians, the tourism industry, freight exporters,
because there's a lot of freight space for your melons,
your beef, your seafood in the belly of those planes.
(04:01):
So we anticipate it's going to actually increase export dollars
to Territorians over two hundred million dollars worth of growth
another twenty five thousand tourists, which is all money going
through the tills. So plus the benefit to your listeners
who can connect with family and friends, and so we
in the coalition, the CLP is very strong on this
(04:24):
and Lisa Bayless and Lisa Sibert as COLP Federal candidates
have been lobbying for cheaper airfares and we think this
is absolutely a plan to deliver.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
It, Senator. If the airlines don't want it, though, as
you've said, if Virgin and Quantus Group don't want it,
are they still going to find a way to stiff us.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
No. When you look at the data out of the Department,
the demand for flights is huge out of Darwin. No
longer are you getting those cheap flights in the middle
of the night. They're costing a matza as well, because
the demand is sky high, so passengers want more flights.
We know that, for instance, the Darwin Brisbane flight that's
(05:09):
an eighty eight nearly eighty eight percent capacity. Now you
would be hard to find flights at that capacity between Melbourne,
Sydney and Brisbane, which is called the Golden Triangle. It's
so lucrative. So the demand from locals is there. We
know you've got a great tourism offering and you've got
some great export products, so this all will stack up.
(05:29):
And so making sure we remove that red tape and
allow international carriers to say, you know what, we're going
to give this a crack for two years and see
what relief it can bring because the cost of living
crisis of the labor party is real and for Territorians
it's manifests itself in higher flight prices.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Why only Darwit? I mean, I don't want to sound ungrateful,
but as a girl who grew up in Mount iSER
and other parts of regional Australia, why only Darwin.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Well, we think it's a unique geography and unique challenges.
You have a population that is paying exorbitantly high fees.
You don't have the level of competition available or service
provision in other ports, shall we say, And because of
your geography, you are on the doorstep of Asia. So
whether it's Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, there's a whole lot
(06:21):
of international carriers that are literally flying overhead that for
you know, a couple of hours stopover could provide some
relief really easily.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Now is this just a trial or could it become permanent?
What's the guy?
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Well, we think because this is such a shakeup and
it's a great plan to reduce prices, we want to
trial it for two years. We're going to enter into
partnership with the CLP territory government here within the first
hundred days of coming to government in a Dutton government
to actually get those providers in. And I know Leah
(06:55):
fucking ri and the CLP has done a great job
in getting more international carriers landing here. So we want
to grow on that relationship that they're developing. And two
years we think is enough time to see if this
will work. And if it does work, then we do
want to see it expanded to other ports like Darwin.
But what we see this is the number one issue
(07:17):
when we're door knocking out in Palmerston, when we're door
knocking around the suburbs of Darwin and Catherine and Alice, this
is the cost of traveling to loved ones and the
impost on local business. So when they go when I'm
talking to local business, they sort of say, I say, house,
we can't get staff. We can't get staff. We're offering
great wages, it's a great lifestyle. And the reason is
(07:41):
because it costs so much, like eight and a half
grand to go home for Christmas. I mean, that's nice.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
It's a heck of a lot of money.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
So a real barrier for small business to actually get
the staff they need as well. So if we can
solve if we can crack this nut, it'll be a
solution for the broader Australian.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
This as I understand it. Please correct me if I'm wrong,
But it was actually a recommendation following the Senate inquiry
into airfares as well, yesn't it.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Yeah, So that was a what's commonly called the Quantis inquiry,
where we looked at Anthony Albanese's decision not to allow
Katar those additional flights and again more competition for quanas
to bring down prices. He rejected that we put this
forward because the experts say this is the way you
increase competition, and we all know increase competition you get
(08:30):
better services and cheaper prices. That's what we want to see.
And unfortunately the Labor Party does not have a plan
to actually get the prices of flying out a DA
one down.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
All right, So if a coalition government is elected in
the first one hundred days, we'll see these changes. Look,
some are questioning whether it's a bit of an uphill
battle for you guys at the moment. I mean, I
know some of the polling is not looking great for
Peter Dutton. I mean, how you guys feeling when you're
out and about do you think the election is still
there to be one?
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Absolutely. I was there in twenty nineteen and at the
end of the day, Australians have never done it tougher.
And that's what the data says. People are feeling poorer
because they actually are poorer. They're taking home less and
they're buying They're not able to purchase what they used
to be able to purchase for the same amount of money.
(09:23):
Their interest rates have gone through the roof, their energy
bills through the roof. Labour's even putting a ute and
suv car tax starting July one this year. It's going
to drive up the price of a Ford Ranger buy
over fourteen grand. Right, So all of this cost of
living crisis under Labor has come home to russ So
when we're actually talking to Australians one on one, they
(09:48):
know who's to blame and they know we've got a
plan to fix it. And that's the great challenge of
the next ten days to get out there. So I'll
be on pre Pole with Lisa Bayless this morning and
making sure that we put our positive plan to get
this country back on track to the Australian people.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Well, Senator Bridget Mackenzie, it's great to have you in
the studio this morning. Really appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Thanks mate.
You are listening to Mix one oh four point nine.
It's just after nine to twenty and this morning it's
being announced that the Dutton coalition government they've pledged cheaper
top end airfares by removing laws that prevent foreign airlines
from landing in Darwen to collect passengers for domestic destinations.
Now they say the removal of cabotage restrictions would only
(00:22):
apply to Darwin and allow the international airlines to carry
domestic passengers and freight to and from Eastern capital cities
like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra. I think for any
of us who've caught a red eye flight out of Darwin,
which is pretty much all of them at this point
in time, we're probably going to be pretty interested to
hear exactly what this announcement means. And joining me in
(00:46):
the studio is the Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and
Regional Development, Senator Bridget mackenzie. Good to have you in
the studio.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Great to be back in Darwin.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Now tell me what exactly is the plan around cabotage
for and I mean it's something that we hear about
a lot of people may not understand exactly.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
What it is though exactly so what we've been hearing
about is the price of airfares out of Darwin to
connect with family and friends on the East Coast, to
actually conduct business or even conversely to get tourism back
into the top end, has been hamstrung by the serviceability
(01:25):
of the major airlines. You've effectively got a duopoly with
Quanus Group and Virgin. Prices have gone through the roof,
and as you rightfully state, you know you have to
get the kids up at eleven pm at night to
actually get them on a plane. Not to mention those
who've been sitting in the pub for four hours before
(01:46):
they get on a flight.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Right, and then they can get themselves in trouble and
not able to get able.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
So we've been really clear in opposition that we want
to have an aviation system across the board where Australians
can afford to buy a ticket. You're playing takes off
and lands on time and your bag arrives in the
same place you do. Doesn't sound like rocket science, but
unfortunately under the Labor Party it's been really, really difficult.
So we have developed a policy to take the red
(02:12):
tape away that stops international carriers stopping off as they're
literally flying overhead on their way to the East coast,
stopping off in Darwin, maybe unloading some international tourists to
go down check out the rock off to Kakado for
a couple of days, and also allow that extra seat
capacity for Territorians to jump on at a cheaper price,
(02:36):
maybe a better time of the day, but to give
more choice and lower prices. And we think this is
a way to actually put more competition in the market
for Territorians, drive down prices and increase choice around flight times.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
Look, it is something that we talk about very regularly
on this show. I can tell you firsthand that you know,
like a couple of weekends ago, I had to take
my kids away for sporting. Perth cost four thousand dollars
for a family to get there and back. It's a
lot of money. But if you want your children to
have opportunities, if you want your family to have opportunities,
that's just one part of it.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
You know.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Then when you talk about families trying to travel away
to see, you know, their love ones, so maybe living
to state that's right, it's a ridiculous amount of money
that we're paying. And then we're leaving at one o'clock
in the morning. It's really tough. I guess the question is,
if this is going to make such an impact, why
hasn't it happened sooner?
Speaker 2 (03:30):
I think it's a really good question, and I think
we've seen the Prime Minister Anthony Alberanzi has a very
close relationship with Quanas Alan Joyce.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
You reckon, that's why.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Absolutely absolutely. I'll tell you who doesn't want this to happen,
Quanas and virgin I know that because we asked in
a Senate inquiry over our period in opposition. You know
who does want it Local territorians, the tourism industry, freight exporters,
because there's a lot of freight space for your melons,
your beef, your seafood in the belly of those planes.
(04:01):
So we anticipate it's going to actually increase export dollars
to Territorians over two hundred million dollars worth of growth
another twenty five thousand tourists, which is all money going
through the tills. So plus the benefit to your listeners
who can connect with family and friends, and so we
in the coalition, the CLP is very strong on this
(04:24):
and Lisa Bayless and Lisa Sibert as COLP Federal candidates
have been lobbying for cheaper airfares and we think this
is absolutely a plan to deliver.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
It, Senator. If the airlines don't want it, though, as
you've said, if Virgin and Quantus Group don't want it,
are they still going to find a way to stiff us.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
No. When you look at the data out of the Department,
the demand for flights is huge out of Darwin. No
longer are you getting those cheap flights in the middle
of the night. They're costing a matza as well, because
the demand is sky high, so passengers want more flights.
We know that, for instance, the Darwin Brisbane flight that's
(05:09):
an eighty eight nearly eighty eight percent capacity. Now you
would be hard to find flights at that capacity between Melbourne,
Sydney and Brisbane, which is called the Golden Triangle. It's
so lucrative. So the demand from locals is there. We
know you've got a great tourism offering and you've got
some great export products, so this all will stack up.
(05:29):
And so making sure we remove that red tape and
allow international carriers to say, you know what, we're going
to give this a crack for two years and see
what relief it can bring because the cost of living
crisis of the labor party is real and for Territorians
it's manifests itself in higher flight prices.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Why only Darwit? I mean, I don't want to sound ungrateful,
but as a girl who grew up in Mount iSER
and other parts of regional Australia, why only Darwin.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Well, we think it's a unique geography and unique challenges.
You have a population that is paying exorbitantly high fees.
You don't have the level of competition available or service
provision in other ports, shall we say, And because of
your geography, you are on the doorstep of Asia. So
whether it's Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, there's a whole lot
(06:21):
of international carriers that are literally flying overhead that for
you know, a couple of hours stopover could provide some
relief really easily.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Now is this just a trial or could it become permanent?
What's the guy?
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Well, we think because this is such a shakeup and
it's a great plan to reduce prices, we want to
trial it for two years. We're going to enter into
partnership with the CLP territory government here within the first
hundred days of coming to government in a Dutton government
to actually get those providers in. And I know Leah
(06:55):
fucking ri and the CLP has done a great job
in getting more international carriers landing here. So we want
to grow on that relationship that they're developing. And two
years we think is enough time to see if this
will work. And if it does work, then we do
want to see it expanded to other ports like Darwin.
But what we see this is the number one issue
(07:17):
when we're door knocking out in Palmerston, when we're door
knocking around the suburbs of Darwin and Catherine and Alice, this
is the cost of traveling to loved ones and the
impost on local business. So when they go when I'm
talking to local business, they sort of say, I say, house,
we can't get staff. We can't get staff. We're offering
great wages, it's a great lifestyle. And the reason is
(07:41):
because it costs so much, like eight and a half
grand to go home for Christmas. I mean, that's nice.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
It's a heck of a lot of money.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
So a real barrier for small business to actually get
the staff they need as well. So if we can
solve if we can crack this nut, it'll be a
solution for the broader Australian.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
This as I understand it. Please correct me if I'm wrong,
But it was actually a recommendation following the Senate inquiry
into airfares as well, yesn't it.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Yeah, So that was a what's commonly called the Quantis inquiry,
where we looked at Anthony Albanese's decision not to allow
Katar those additional flights and again more competition for quanas
to bring down prices. He rejected that we put this
forward because the experts say this is the way you
increase competition, and we all know increase competition you get
(08:30):
better services and cheaper prices. That's what we want to see.
And unfortunately the Labor Party does not have a plan
to actually get the prices of flying out a DA
one down.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
All right, So if a coalition government is elected in
the first one hundred days, we'll see these changes. Look,
some are questioning whether it's a bit of an uphill
battle for you guys at the moment. I mean, I
know some of the polling is not looking great for
Peter Dutton. I mean, how you guys feeling when you're
out and about do you think the election is still
there to be one?
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Absolutely. I was there in twenty nineteen and at the
end of the day, Australians have never done it tougher.
And that's what the data says. People are feeling poorer
because they actually are poorer. They're taking home less and
they're buying They're not able to purchase what they used
to be able to purchase for the same amount of money.
(09:23):
Their interest rates have gone through the roof, their energy
bills through the roof. Labour's even putting a ute and
suv car tax starting July one this year. It's going
to drive up the price of a Ford Ranger buy
over fourteen grand. Right, So all of this cost of
living crisis under Labor has come home to russ So
when we're actually talking to Australians one on one, they
(09:48):
know who's to blame and they know we've got a
plan to fix it. And that's the great challenge of
the next ten days to get out there. So I'll
be on pre Pole with Lisa Bayless this morning and
making sure that we put our positive plan to get
this country back on track to the Australian people.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Well, Senator Bridget Mackenzie, it's great to have you in
the studio this morning. Really appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Thanks mate.
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