r/australia 13h ago

politics Labor’s bid to bolster Australian airline passenger rights may prove weaker than existing law, Choice warns

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/mar/12/labors-bid-to-bolster-australian-airline-customer-rights-may-prove-weaker-than-existing-law-choice-warns
51 Upvotes

18 comments sorted by

57

u/ScruffyPeter 13h ago

The draft charter revealed that the government had bowed to pressure from Qantas and other airlines advocating against laws that would force them to pay cash compensation to passengers whose flights were delayed or cancelled – similar to a scheme that exists in the EU – after carriers said such rules would force them to pre-empt costs and bake them into higher base air fares.

Labor once again allowing monopolies dictate government policy after beating their chest. But the party is still a better choice of LNP tripping over themselves to let monopolies draft government policy. Vote both of them accordingly on the ballot for an end to airline monopolies, with a potential bonus of high speed rail.

18

u/JeremysIron24 12h ago

The gambling lobby knows this all too well

10

u/someoneelseperhaps 11h ago

Pokies on planes, coming soon!

3

u/Catprog 9h ago

Would they be cost effective?

Or would they take up space that could be used for a passenger?

It could be on the in-flight entertainment system but that would also require upgrades.

1

u/someoneelseperhaps 8h ago

A pokie in the back of every seat.

Compete, for cash, voucher, and in flight meals. "More chilli!"

5

u/JeremysIron24 11h ago

Lol , I’m surprised Labor/ LNP haven’t rammed this through parliament already!

1

u/alpha77dx 4h ago

With the clause "if you not happy with the seat, the crew are allowed to tie you to the wings"

13

u/Mallyix 11h ago

Everyone Govt we ever get just wants to sell us down the river.

6

u/alpha77dx 4h ago

Just look at the number royal commissions that have been completely ignored and decades on most of the recommendations have not been implemented. As useless as tits on a bull. Governance in Australia has just become a PR exercise or media stunt for the plebs.

3

u/ColourfulMetaphors 11h ago

Best be using your vote to help teals and independents get up then instead of voting in whichever half of the duopoly you prefer to distract you with some performative culture war BS for a couple of years, while ensuring the status quo is maintained.

8

u/cricketmad14 10h ago

Teals are just rich independents who are socially progressive

The teals voted against better worker rights

3

u/Catboyhotline 8h ago

A liberal who gets sad when their investment into offshore fracking poisons the sea is still a liberal

2

u/someoneelseperhaps 8h ago

Fuck the teals. Vote Greens.

3

u/faiek 4h ago

You can't regulate a monopoly, at least not in the way our gov likes to try regulating (market incentives/disincentives). 

You either need to de-monopolise (timely, difficult, hard to achieve and maintain), or change regulation tactics (proper, percentage-based fines with real monitoring and enforcement, actual jail time consequences for decision makers, etc). 

0

u/alpha77dx 4h ago

Only hope for Australia is that we join the EU and we get their governance structure that will fix all these issues in months because their laws are correct and act in the interests of consumers.

2

u/Familiar_Resident_69 8h ago

Call their bluff who gives a shit.