Going for growth?

Aviation under a Labor government

It’s a rare event, a change in federal government. A new minister responsible for aviation, and a new aviation policy, hold out promise of new directions for Australia’s aviation industry.

It’s fair to say that after over 11 years of the former Coalition government’s light handed, almost hands-off approach to aviation in Australia, many in the industry are keen to see a long term aviation policy agenda put in place to implement solutions for many of the industry’s problems. For much of the Coalition’s reign the minister responsible for aviation was, firstly with John Anderson and then (after Warren Truss held the portfolio briefly) most recently Mark Vaile, both not only the Minister for Transport and Regional Services (or Regional Development), but also leader of the National Party and consequently Deputy Prime Minister.