Mr TANNER(6.02 p.m.) —I would like to take a couple of minutes to commend the government for agreeing to the amendments that the opposition moved to this legislation in the House and that have subsequently been dealt with in the Senate. As the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Regional Development (Mr Ronaldson) has indicated, these amendments do primarily relate to matters that concern what the secretary to the department has to take into account when making decisions with respect to granting approvals for foreign charters.

Although it is true to say, as the parliamentary secretary did, that the previously existing provision in the government's legislation with respect to the International Air Services Commission did indirectly pertain to the issue of the Australian aviation industry, it is our view that a more explicit criterion was appropriate to be inserted. I am pleased that the government has agreed to that proposition; and also that the provision which empowers the secretary to exempt a particular charter operation from the requirement to get approval requires that the secretary consider the same issues when proposing to grant such an exemption as he or she would have to consider when actually granting an approval.

It is extremely important for the future of the aviation industry in this country that we maintain something approximating what we have at the moment, which is a fairly good mix between substantial foreign involvement in the industry, substantial foreign competition, but with a substantial Australian share of the market—somewhere over 40 per cent. Around 45 per cent is probably roughly the amount at the moment.

I believe it is important that government aviation policy ensures that the Australian proportion of the market remains somewhere around that level and that we have substantial competition—as we do have—as a result of the participation of international carriers, but that we at the same time sustain a significant Australian involvement both through Qantas and Ansett. I again commend the government for agreeing to the amendments. The opposition naturally supports the amendments to the bill.

Question resolved in the affirmative.