Aviation industry
Anthony CIANFLONE (Pascoe Vale) (10:05): I rise to stand with the Transport Workers Union on the need to improve safety across our skies and on our roads. On 8 March Rivet workers who refuel planes primarily for Qantas took 24 hours of protected industrial action following three years without having received a pay rise. As Rivet’s major client, accounting for 60 per cent of their work, Qantas has the ability through its labour providers to ensure workers refuelling its planes are receiving fair pay and good conditions. Despite Qantas reporting a $1 billion half-year profit, however, the wages and safety conditions of refuelling workers have simply not kept pace. It is well and truly time for the federal government to establish a safe and secure skies commission to address these issues into the future.