Senator DEAN SMITH (Western Australia) (16:00): I've got four questions for the government. The first question is: what is the government doing to attract and retain more airlines and build confidence in Australia's aviation industry? The second question is: why has the government decided not to reinstate the ACCC's airline monitoring report, introduced by Josh Frydenberg, then treasurer, as part of the COVID response, which included 12 reports, the final report in June of this year? Why has the government not chosen to reinstate that ACCC report, which I would argue is a key protection for consumers and for competition? The third question is: why has the government chosen to sit idly by and not pursue any of those recommendations that are contained in those ACCC monitoring reports? The fourth question is: who is it that Anthony Albanese is listening to? It's clearly not his Labor Party colleagues in South Australia; he's turned his back on them. It's clearly not his Labor Party colleagues in Queensland; he's turned his back on them. And it's not even Wayne Swan, the former Labor treasurer and now national President of the Australian Labor Party. No, Prime Minister Albanese has turned his back on Wayne Swan, who has said this decision deserves to be reviewed. I would add to that that it deserves to be reviewed in public and not in private. Why is it that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese doesn't think he has to listen to the former chairman of the ACCC, Rod Sims, who said about the Qatar decision: I think it does hurt competition. He went on to say: … if there was a time to allow new entrants in, this is it. Why is it that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese thinks that he can turn his back on between $540 million and almost $800 million of economic activity? Why does Prime Minister Albanese think that he can turn his back on almost $500 million of tourism and hospitality activity? What is happening in the Prime Minister's head? What's happening in the Treasurer's head? We know what is happening in Andrew Leigh's head. Andrew Leigh— The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT ( Senator Polley ): Senator, I will remind you to use the correct titles of members from the other place. Senator DEAN SMITH: My apologies. For those of you who aren't familiar with Mr Andrew Leigh, he is the Assistant Minister for Charities, Competition and Treasury, and guess what Andrew Leigh says. He says: 'Don't look at Australia. If you want to see a competitive aviation industry, look to Europe.' Andrew Leigh says to Australians— The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: I will remind you to use the correct titles. Senator DEAN SMITH: The assistant minister for competition, reporting to the Treasurer, Dr Chalmers, reporting to Anthony Albanese, the Prime Minister, says, 'Don't look here.' Andrew Leigh says, 'I look to Europe'— The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator, please resume your seat. I have asked you on a number of occasions. I know it's only Monday, but it's out of respect for people from that other place— An honourable senator interjecting— The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Excuse me? Can I just continue, if you don't mind, Senator? I have been very patient and asked the senator—the good senator—to refer to people with their correct title, and he is assistant minister. Senator DEAN SMITH: Thank you very much, Madam Acting Deputy President. I accept your invitation absolutely. Mr Leigh, the assistant minister for competition, says: I look to Europe with its range of low-cost carriers and see what looks like an even more competitive ecosystem … Really? I thought the job of Mr Leigh, the assistant minister for competition, was to look after the aviation ecosystem in this country. But, no—he says: 'Don't look here. Look at Europe.' So the question still stands. With the ACCC having released its Airline competition in Australia report in June this year—which, I might add, exposed flight delays, flight cancellations, excessive profits and terrible experiences of customers—why won't the government continue to extend this particular monitoring regime for the protection of consumers and for the protection of competition? That would be a very, very simple first step. I would have thought Mr Leigh, the member for Fenner, would have come to work today, Monday, and said, 'Dr Chalmers, I've got an idea'— (Time expired) The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT ( Senator Polley ): Senator Sheldon? Senator Canavan: This will be good.