1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,240 Speaker 1: You are listening to Mix one oh four point nine. 2 00:00:02,320 --> 00:00:06,160 Speaker 1: It's just after nine to twenty and this morning it's 3 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:09,799 Speaker 1: being announced that the Dutton coalition government they've pledged cheaper 4 00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:14,160 Speaker 1: top end airfares by removing laws that prevent foreign airlines 5 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:18,640 Speaker 1: from landing in Darwen to collect passengers for domestic destinations. 6 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:22,799 Speaker 1: Now they say the removal of cabotage restrictions would only 7 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:26,200 Speaker 1: apply to Darwin and allow the international airlines to carry 8 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:31,280 Speaker 1: domestic passengers and freight to and from Eastern capital cities 9 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:35,320 Speaker 1: like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra. I think for any 10 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:38,120 Speaker 1: of us who've caught a red eye flight out of Darwin, 11 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:39,920 Speaker 1: which is pretty much all of them at this point 12 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 1: in time, we're probably going to be pretty interested to 13 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:46,080 Speaker 1: hear exactly what this announcement means. And joining me in 14 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:49,640 Speaker 1: the studio is the Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and 15 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:53,199 Speaker 1: Regional Development, Senator Bridget mackenzie. Good to have you in 16 00:00:53,240 --> 00:00:53,760 Speaker 1: the studio. 17 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:55,280 Speaker 2: Great to be back in Darwin. 18 00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 1: Now tell me what exactly is the plan around cabotage 19 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:01,960 Speaker 1: for and I mean it's something that we hear about 20 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:05,360 Speaker 1: a lot of people may not understand exactly. 21 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:07,959 Speaker 2: What it is though exactly so what we've been hearing 22 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:12,280 Speaker 2: about is the price of airfares out of Darwin to 23 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:15,480 Speaker 2: connect with family and friends on the East Coast, to 24 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:20,160 Speaker 2: actually conduct business or even conversely to get tourism back 25 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 2: into the top end, has been hamstrung by the serviceability 26 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 2: of the major airlines. You've effectively got a duopoly with 27 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:33,320 Speaker 2: Quanus Group and Virgin. Prices have gone through the roof, 28 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 2: and as you rightfully state, you know you have to 29 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:40,920 Speaker 2: get the kids up at eleven pm at night to 30 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 2: actually get them on a plane. Not to mention those 31 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:46,560 Speaker 2: who've been sitting in the pub for four hours before 32 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 2: they get on a flight. 33 00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:49,920 Speaker 1: Right, and then they can get themselves in trouble and 34 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:51,000 Speaker 1: not able to get able. 35 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:54,840 Speaker 2: So we've been really clear in opposition that we want 36 00:01:54,840 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 2: to have an aviation system across the board where Australians 37 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:00,440 Speaker 2: can afford to buy a ticket. You're playing takes off 38 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:03,640 Speaker 2: and lands on time and your bag arrives in the 39 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:06,000 Speaker 2: same place you do. Doesn't sound like rocket science, but 40 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 2: unfortunately under the Labor Party it's been really, really difficult. 41 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:12,640 Speaker 2: So we have developed a policy to take the red 42 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:18,119 Speaker 2: tape away that stops international carriers stopping off as they're 43 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 2: literally flying overhead on their way to the East coast, 44 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:25,239 Speaker 2: stopping off in Darwin, maybe unloading some international tourists to 45 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:27,480 Speaker 2: go down check out the rock off to Kakado for 46 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 2: a couple of days, and also allow that extra seat 47 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:36,120 Speaker 2: capacity for Territorians to jump on at a cheaper price, 48 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:38,679 Speaker 2: maybe a better time of the day, but to give 49 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:42,359 Speaker 2: more choice and lower prices. And we think this is 50 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:46,280 Speaker 2: a way to actually put more competition in the market 51 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:51,480 Speaker 2: for Territorians, drive down prices and increase choice around flight times. 52 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:54,240 Speaker 1: Look, it is something that we talk about very regularly 53 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 1: on this show. I can tell you firsthand that you know, 54 00:02:57,800 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 1: like a couple of weekends ago, I had to take 55 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 1: my kids away for sporting. Perth cost four thousand dollars 56 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 1: for a family to get there and back. It's a 57 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:05,959 Speaker 1: lot of money. But if you want your children to 58 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:08,920 Speaker 1: have opportunities, if you want your family to have opportunities, 59 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:10,760 Speaker 1: that's just one part of it. 60 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:11,120 Speaker 2: You know. 61 00:03:11,560 --> 00:03:14,040 Speaker 1: Then when you talk about families trying to travel away 62 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:16,920 Speaker 1: to see, you know, their love ones, so maybe living 63 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 1: to state that's right, it's a ridiculous amount of money 64 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:22,520 Speaker 1: that we're paying. And then we're leaving at one o'clock 65 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:25,360 Speaker 1: in the morning. It's really tough. I guess the question is, 66 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:28,600 Speaker 1: if this is going to make such an impact, why 67 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:29,799 Speaker 1: hasn't it happened sooner? 68 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 2: I think it's a really good question, and I think 69 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 2: we've seen the Prime Minister Anthony Alberanzi has a very 70 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 2: close relationship with Quanas Alan Joyce. 71 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 1: You reckon, that's why. 72 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 2: Absolutely absolutely. I'll tell you who doesn't want this to happen, 73 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:46,080 Speaker 2: Quanas and virgin I know that because we asked in 74 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:50,040 Speaker 2: a Senate inquiry over our period in opposition. You know 75 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 2: who does want it Local territorians, the tourism industry, freight exporters, 76 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:58,600 Speaker 2: because there's a lot of freight space for your melons, 77 00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 2: your beef, your seafood in the belly of those planes. 78 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:06,640 Speaker 2: So we anticipate it's going to actually increase export dollars 79 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:09,880 Speaker 2: to Territorians over two hundred million dollars worth of growth 80 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 2: another twenty five thousand tourists, which is all money going 81 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:16,760 Speaker 2: through the tills. So plus the benefit to your listeners 82 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:20,280 Speaker 2: who can connect with family and friends, and so we 83 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:23,680 Speaker 2: in the coalition, the CLP is very strong on this 84 00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 2: and Lisa Bayless and Lisa Sibert as COLP Federal candidates 85 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:32,800 Speaker 2: have been lobbying for cheaper airfares and we think this 86 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:35,479 Speaker 2: is absolutely a plan to deliver. 87 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:38,880 Speaker 1: It, Senator. If the airlines don't want it, though, as 88 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:41,680 Speaker 1: you've said, if Virgin and Quantus Group don't want it, 89 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 1: are they still going to find a way to stiff us. 90 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 2: No. When you look at the data out of the Department, 91 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:54,279 Speaker 2: the demand for flights is huge out of Darwin. No 92 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:56,679 Speaker 2: longer are you getting those cheap flights in the middle 93 00:04:56,680 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 2: of the night. They're costing a matza as well, because 94 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 2: the demand is sky high, so passengers want more flights. 95 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:09,240 Speaker 2: We know that, for instance, the Darwin Brisbane flight that's 96 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 2: an eighty eight nearly eighty eight percent capacity. Now you 97 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:16,880 Speaker 2: would be hard to find flights at that capacity between Melbourne, 98 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:19,280 Speaker 2: Sydney and Brisbane, which is called the Golden Triangle. It's 99 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:23,280 Speaker 2: so lucrative. So the demand from locals is there. We 100 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:25,600 Speaker 2: know you've got a great tourism offering and you've got 101 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:29,680 Speaker 2: some great export products, so this all will stack up. 102 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 2: And so making sure we remove that red tape and 103 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 2: allow international carriers to say, you know what, we're going 104 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:38,760 Speaker 2: to give this a crack for two years and see 105 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:41,360 Speaker 2: what relief it can bring because the cost of living 106 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:45,360 Speaker 2: crisis of the labor party is real and for Territorians 107 00:05:45,640 --> 00:05:48,839 Speaker 2: it's manifests itself in higher flight prices. 108 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:52,039 Speaker 1: Why only Darwit? I mean, I don't want to sound ungrateful, 109 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:54,000 Speaker 1: but as a girl who grew up in Mount iSER 110 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:56,920 Speaker 1: and other parts of regional Australia, why only Darwin. 111 00:05:57,360 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 2: Well, we think it's a unique geography and unique challenges. 112 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:05,239 Speaker 2: You have a population that is paying exorbitantly high fees. 113 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:08,200 Speaker 2: You don't have the level of competition available or service 114 00:06:08,279 --> 00:06:13,280 Speaker 2: provision in other ports, shall we say, And because of 115 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:16,839 Speaker 2: your geography, you are on the doorstep of Asia. So 116 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:21,840 Speaker 2: whether it's Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, there's a whole lot 117 00:06:21,839 --> 00:06:26,960 Speaker 2: of international carriers that are literally flying overhead that for 118 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:29,920 Speaker 2: you know, a couple of hours stopover could provide some 119 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:31,040 Speaker 2: relief really easily. 120 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:34,480 Speaker 1: Now is this just a trial or could it become permanent? 121 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:35,080 Speaker 1: What's the guy? 122 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 2: Well, we think because this is such a shakeup and 123 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:40,960 Speaker 2: it's a great plan to reduce prices, we want to 124 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:43,200 Speaker 2: trial it for two years. We're going to enter into 125 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 2: partnership with the CLP territory government here within the first 126 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:50,480 Speaker 2: hundred days of coming to government in a Dutton government 127 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:55,599 Speaker 2: to actually get those providers in. And I know Leah 128 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 2: fucking ri and the CLP has done a great job 129 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:01,160 Speaker 2: in getting more international carriers landing here. So we want 130 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:05,480 Speaker 2: to grow on that relationship that they're developing. And two 131 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:08,159 Speaker 2: years we think is enough time to see if this 132 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 2: will work. And if it does work, then we do 133 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:13,960 Speaker 2: want to see it expanded to other ports like Darwin. 134 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 2: But what we see this is the number one issue 135 00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 2: when we're door knocking out in Palmerston, when we're door 136 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:24,840 Speaker 2: knocking around the suburbs of Darwin and Catherine and Alice, this 137 00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:29,800 Speaker 2: is the cost of traveling to loved ones and the 138 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:32,240 Speaker 2: impost on local business. So when they go when I'm 139 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:34,679 Speaker 2: talking to local business, they sort of say, I say, house, 140 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:37,920 Speaker 2: we can't get staff. We can't get staff. We're offering 141 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:41,640 Speaker 2: great wages, it's a great lifestyle. And the reason is 142 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 2: because it costs so much, like eight and a half 143 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 2: grand to go home for Christmas. I mean, that's nice. 144 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:48,280 Speaker 1: It's a heck of a lot of money. 145 00:07:48,320 --> 00:07:51,120 Speaker 2: So a real barrier for small business to actually get 146 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:53,040 Speaker 2: the staff they need as well. So if we can 147 00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:56,600 Speaker 2: solve if we can crack this nut, it'll be a 148 00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:59,560 Speaker 2: solution for the broader Australian. 149 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:02,160 Speaker 1: This as I understand it. Please correct me if I'm wrong, 150 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 1: But it was actually a recommendation following the Senate inquiry 151 00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:07,080 Speaker 1: into airfares as well, yesn't it. 152 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:10,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, So that was a what's commonly called the Quantis inquiry, 153 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:14,920 Speaker 2: where we looked at Anthony Albanese's decision not to allow 154 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 2: Katar those additional flights and again more competition for quanas 155 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:22,960 Speaker 2: to bring down prices. He rejected that we put this 156 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:26,840 Speaker 2: forward because the experts say this is the way you 157 00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:30,360 Speaker 2: increase competition, and we all know increase competition you get 158 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:34,360 Speaker 2: better services and cheaper prices. That's what we want to see. 159 00:08:34,960 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 2: And unfortunately the Labor Party does not have a plan 160 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 2: to actually get the prices of flying out a DA 161 00:08:42,040 --> 00:08:42,560 Speaker 2: one down. 162 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:47,080 Speaker 1: All right, So if a coalition government is elected in 163 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:50,040 Speaker 1: the first one hundred days, we'll see these changes. Look, 164 00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:52,480 Speaker 1: some are questioning whether it's a bit of an uphill 165 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:54,360 Speaker 1: battle for you guys at the moment. I mean, I 166 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:57,280 Speaker 1: know some of the polling is not looking great for 167 00:08:57,360 --> 00:09:00,440 Speaker 1: Peter Dutton. I mean, how you guys feeling when you're 168 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:02,720 Speaker 1: out and about do you think the election is still 169 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:03,480 Speaker 1: there to be one? 170 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:07,480 Speaker 2: Absolutely. I was there in twenty nineteen and at the 171 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:11,440 Speaker 2: end of the day, Australians have never done it tougher. 172 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:14,760 Speaker 2: And that's what the data says. People are feeling poorer 173 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:18,360 Speaker 2: because they actually are poorer. They're taking home less and 174 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:21,439 Speaker 2: they're buying They're not able to purchase what they used 175 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:23,440 Speaker 2: to be able to purchase for the same amount of money. 176 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:26,840 Speaker 2: Their interest rates have gone through the roof, their energy 177 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:29,800 Speaker 2: bills through the roof. Labour's even putting a ute and 178 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 2: suv car tax starting July one this year. It's going 179 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:36,240 Speaker 2: to drive up the price of a Ford Ranger buy 180 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 2: over fourteen grand. Right, So all of this cost of 181 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 2: living crisis under Labor has come home to russ So 182 00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:48,280 Speaker 2: when we're actually talking to Australians one on one, they 183 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:50,680 Speaker 2: know who's to blame and they know we've got a 184 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:53,800 Speaker 2: plan to fix it. And that's the great challenge of 185 00:09:53,840 --> 00:09:56,480 Speaker 2: the next ten days to get out there. So I'll 186 00:09:56,480 --> 00:10:00,440 Speaker 2: be on pre Pole with Lisa Bayless this morning and 187 00:10:00,480 --> 00:10:02,600 Speaker 2: making sure that we put our positive plan to get 188 00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:04,680 Speaker 2: this country back on track to the Australian people. 189 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:07,480 Speaker 1: Well, Senator Bridget Mackenzie, it's great to have you in 190 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:09,680 Speaker 1: the studio this morning. Really appreciate your time. 191 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:10,280 Speaker 2: Thanks mate.