Media Release

KAP Federal Leader and Member for Kennedy Bob Katter today called for a Senate Enquiry into the Qantas Avalon facility closure, following Qantas's announcement that the Avalon Heavy Maintenance Facility near Geelong will close and 300 jobs will be lost.

Mr Katter also called on the Federal Government to immediately halt the closure until the Senate Enquiry is completed.

“This is not a matter of commercial decision making this is a grave matter of air safety,” Mr Katter said.

“There is a continual removal of the ability to fix aeroplanes in Australia.

“It’s insulting our intelligence to tell us that every time an aeroplane Boeing 747 aeroplane is needing a motor repaired that they are going to fly it to Singapore to have it fixed.

"Come on – lets join the real world!” Mr Katter said.

Mr Katter was optimistic in calling for a full senate enquiry that he would not be alone.

“It will be a terrible day for Australia if the only single voice in Parliament in Australia is my own, but I’m certain it will not be the only voice.

“I will be discussing with senators a full senate enquiry into the situation with respect to safety and the effects of progressively removing all of the aeronautical engineers and technicians from Australia," Mr Katter said.

Earlier this year, Mr Katter introduced legislation, Aviation Laws Amendment (Australian Ownership and Operation) Bill 2013 which ensures that Australian airlines can only access domestic flights and ports by meeting a definition of “Australian”; namely that the airline conducts at least 80 per cent of its aircraft maintenance in Australia.