An axed airline price gouging monitor should be reinstated, according to a fresh push from the Coalition.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission was directed to monitor the domestic aviation market, including airline profit margins, by the former government in 2020.
But after three years, the consumer watchdog’s increased scrutiny ceased in June after the Albanese government opted to not extend funding.
On Wednesday, Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie and Liberal Dean Smith reignited the call to have the oversight reinstated.
“The watchdog clearly said that ongoing monitoring would boost transparency and scrutiny of an industry in which new or growing airlines are trying to get established,” Senator Smith said.
“This is totally at odds with the Albanese Government’s supposed commitment to both transparency and making life cheaper for Australians.”
Last month, the government backflipped to include the airline sector in its two-year review into Australia’s competition framework, despite initially ruling it out.
The bill, introduced to the senate on Wednesday, would replicate the monitoring regime begun under the Morrison government.
The monitoring would track prices, costs and profits relating to the supply of domestic air passenger transport services, and of related goods and services, for three years.
If the bill finds support, the ACCC would be required to publish a report of its findings at least once every quarter.
The Qantas-Virgin duopoly controls 95 per cent of the domestic market. The ACCC in June said the duopoly has made it “one of the most highly concentrated industries in Australia”.
“The lack of effective competition over the last decade has resulted in underwhelming outcomes for consumers in terms of airfares, reliability of services and customer service,” the watchdog’s final report said.
The intervention comes amid a political storm about Transport Minister Catherine King’s decision to block Qatar Airways request to double its flight capacity to Australia.
Senator McKenzie renewed her criticism that the government was running “a protection racket for Qantas”.
“The question remains, why doesn’t the Albanese Government want to provide cheaper airfares for the travelling public in a cost-of-living crisis?” she said.
Ms King’s office was contacted for comment.