This bill is currently before Parliament.
Budget, tax & economy
This is a supporting bill for the aviation consumer protection package.
The government introduced this bill to make the proposed aviation consumer protection regulator partly industry-funded. The main Aviation Consumer Protection Bill would create the Aviation Consumer Protection AuthorityA regulatory function inside the federal infrastructure department that would enforce the proposed aviation consumer protection framework. and related consumer protection functions; this bill would impose the annual levyThe annual levy this bill would impose on regulated entities to fund regulatory and administrative costs for the aviation consumer protection framework. used to recover the regulator's administration and enforcement costs, while the companion collection bill would deal with collection machinery.
This bill sits inside a larger aviation consumer protection package. The government says the package responds to gaps in existing aviation consumer protections by creating an Aviation Consumer Protection AuthorityA regulatory function inside the federal infrastructure department that would enforce the proposed aviation consumer protection framework., an Aviation Consumer Ombuds SchemeThe separate external dispute resolution scheme proposed in the main aviation consumer protection package for individual airline and airport complaints., an Aviation Consumer Protections CharterThe proposed charter that would set minimum service standards for airlines and airports, including standards for delays, cancellations, baggage, accessibility and complaint handling., and a statutory Aircraft Noise OmbudspersonThe aircraft-noise complaints role proposed in the wider package to review how Airservices Australia and the Department of Defence handle aircraft noise complaints.. This bill is narrower: it imposes the annual general levyThe annual levy this bill would impose on regulated entities to fund regulatory and administrative costs for the aviation consumer protection framework. intended to recover the regulator's administrative and regulatory costs from regulated aviation entities.
The collected bundle does not include opposition debate, divisions, or proposed amendments criticising this levyThe annual levy this bill would impose on regulated entities to fund regulatory and administrative costs for the aviation consumer protection framework. bill. The main caveat visible from the official materials is that the bill does not set the levyThe annual levy this bill would impose on regulated entities to fund regulatory and administrative costs for the aviation consumer protection framework. dollar amounts or calculation methods itself; those details would be made later by regulations after Royal Assent.
Hon Catherine King MP introduced this bill. Supportive speeches so far have come from Labor.
Did it become law?
Not yet
Final passage
No final vote yet
The bill has not yet completed passage through Parliament.
Days since introduction
70 days
Updated 10 June 2026.
Meaning
This is a supporting bill for the aviation consumer protection package. It would impose an annual general levyThe annual levy this bill would impose on regulated entities to fund regulatory and administrative costs for the aviation consumer protection framework. on regulated aviation entities, rather than creating the main passenger rights and complaints framework itself.
The levyThe annual levy this bill would impose on regulated entities to fund regulatory and administrative costs for the aviation consumer protection framework. is intended to recover the regulatory and administrative costs of the Aviation Consumer Protection AuthorityA regulatory function inside the federal infrastructure department that would enforce the proposed aviation consumer protection framework., including charterThe proposed charter that would set minimum service standards for airlines and airports, including standards for delays, cancellations, baggage, accessibility and complaint handling. enforcement, non-compliance investigations, and regulation and enforcement of the ombuds schemeThe separate external dispute resolution scheme proposed in the main aviation consumer protection package for individual airline and airport complaints..
For financial years beginning on or after 1 July 2026, regulations would set the levyThe annual levy this bill would impose on regulated entities to fund regulatory and administrative costs for the aviation consumer protection framework. amount or method. Regulations could also set different methods for different classes of regulated entitiesThe aviation businesses covered by the framework. The explanatory memorandum describes them as bodies corporate providing airline and airport services., set nil amounts, or allow pro rata calculation.
Before levyThe annual levy this bill would impose on regulated entities to fund regulatory and administrative costs for the aviation consumer protection framework. regulations are made, the minister would have to consider whether the total levyThe annual levy this bill would impose on regulated entities to fund regulatory and administrative costs for the aviation consumer protection framework. reflects administration costsThe expected costs of administering the Aviation Consumer Protection Act 2026 and the Aviation Consumer Protection Levy (Collection) Act 2026 for a financial year, as determined by the department secretary by legislative instrument. and whether each regulated entity's levyThe annual levy this bill would impose on regulated entities to fund regulatory and administrative costs for the aviation consumer protection framework. is a fair proportion of the total.
The infrastructure department secretary would determine the annual administration costsThe expected costs of administering the Aviation Consumer Protection Act 2026 and the Aviation Consumer Protection Levy (Collection) Act 2026 for a financial year, as determined by the department secretary by legislative instrument. by legislative instrumentA form of delegated legislation. Under this bill, exemptions and annual administration cost determinations would be made by legislative instrument. for each financial year starting on or after 1 July 2026, and that amount would need to reflect effective and efficient use of public resources.
This Act imposes an annual general levy on entities that are regulated entities in a financial year. The levy relates to the costs of administrating the Aviation Consumer Protection Act 2026 and the Aviation Consumer Protection Levy (Collection) Act 2026 in that year.Introduced bill text
The annual levy is based on the estimated costs of the ACPA's regulatory functions (including enforcement of the Charter), investigations into non-compliance with the Charter and regulation and enforcement of the Scheme.Explanatory memorandum
The amount of annual general levy payable by a regulated entity for a financial year beginning on or after 1 July 2026 is the amount worked out in accordance with the regulations.Introduced bill text
Before the Governor-General makes regulations for the purposes of subsection (1), the Minister must consider the following objectives: (a) that the total amount of annual general levy payable by all regulated entities for a financial year reflect the amount of the administration costs for the financial year; (b) that the amount of annual general levy payable by a regulated entity for a financial year is a fair proportion of the total amount of annual general levy payable by all regulated entities for the financial year.Introduced bill text
The Secretary must, by legislative instrument, make a determination for each financial year starting on or after 1 July 2026 specifying an amount equal to the costs that are expected to be incurred, in the financial year, in administering: (a) the Aviation Consumer Protection Act 2026; and (b) the Aviation Consumer Protection Levy (Collection) Act 2026.Introduced bill text
Context
This bill sits inside a larger aviation consumer protection package. The government says the package responds to gaps in existing aviation consumer protections by creating an Aviation Consumer Protection AuthorityA regulatory function inside the federal infrastructure department that would enforce the proposed aviation consumer protection framework., an Aviation Consumer Ombuds SchemeThe separate external dispute resolution scheme proposed in the main aviation consumer protection package for individual airline and airport complaints., an Aviation Consumer Protections CharterThe proposed charter that would set minimum service standards for airlines and airports, including standards for delays, cancellations, baggage, accessibility and complaint handling., and a statutory Aircraft Noise OmbudspersonThe aircraft-noise complaints role proposed in the wider package to review how Airservices Australia and the Department of Defence handle aircraft noise complaints.. This bill is narrower: it imposes the annual general levyThe annual levy this bill would impose on regulated entities to fund regulatory and administrative costs for the aviation consumer protection framework. intended to recover the regulator's administrative and regulatory costs from regulated aviation entities.
Aviation White Paper commits to stronger consumer protections
The explanatory memorandum says the 2024 Aviation White Paper included commitments to establish an ombuds schemeThe separate external dispute resolution scheme proposed in the main aviation consumer protection package for individual airline and airport complaints. for individual aviation complaints and to develop a charterThe proposed charter that would set minimum service standards for airlines and airports, including standards for delays, cancellations, baggage, accessibility and complaint handling. for aviation consumers.
Explanatory memorandum ↗Government consults on the initial ombuds design
The explanatory memorandum says consultation on the initial design of the former Aviation Industry Ombuds SchemeThe separate external dispute resolution scheme proposed in the main aviation consumer protection package for individual airline and airport complaints. helped shape the later bill package.
Explanatory memorandum ↗Consumer charterThe proposed charter that would set minimum service standards for airlines and airports, including standards for delays, cancellations, baggage, accessibility and complaint handling. consultation tests minimum standards
The explanatory memorandum says consultation on the former Aviation Customer Rights CharterThe proposed charter that would set minimum service standards for airlines and airports, including standards for delays, cancellations, baggage, accessibility and complaint handling. fed into the decision to frame the charterThe proposed charter that would set minimum service standards for airlines and airports, including standards for delays, cancellations, baggage, accessibility and complaint handling. as minimum standards for aviation consumers.
Explanatory memorandum ↗Revised framework consultation shapes the package
The explanatory memorandum says later consultation involved the aviation industry, consumer groups, disability advocacy representatives and Commonwealth agencies before the bills were introduced.
Explanatory memorandum ↗Levy bill introduced with the aviation consumer package
The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives and referred to the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee for report by 19 June 2026.
APH bill page notes ↗Legislative route
The bill was formally presented to the House of Representatives and read a first time.
Introduced and read a first time
The minister moved the second reading, opening debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The bill was referred to the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, with a report due on 19 June 2026.
Report due 19 Jun 2026
APH bill page notesThe APH notes record that the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills considered the bill in Scrutiny Digest 6 of 2026.
Considered in Scrutiny Digest 6 of 2026
APH bill page notesKey criticism
The collected bundle does not include opposition debate, divisions, or proposed amendments criticising this levyThe annual levy this bill would impose on regulated entities to fund regulatory and administrative costs for the aviation consumer protection framework. bill. The main caveat visible from the official materials is that the bill does not set the levyThe annual levy this bill would impose on regulated entities to fund regulatory and administrative costs for the aviation consumer protection framework. dollar amounts or calculation methods itself; those details would be made later by regulations after Royal Assent.
Absence of collected criticism is not evidence that no criticism exists; it reflects the available local source bundle for this page.
Levy details left to regulations
The explanatory memorandum says the levyThe annual levy this bill would impose on regulated entities to fund regulatory and administrative costs for the aviation consumer protection framework. and collection bills are mechanical and do not set the amount or method of charging. Those details would be determined through secondary legislation, so the introduced bill shows the charging framework but not the eventual charge for each regulated entity.
Further sources
Votes
No recorded votes have been found yet for this bill.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Catherine King presented the bill as part of the aviation consumer protection package.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
1 speaker · 1 support
“The Australian government intends the annual general levy to offset the cost of administering the aviation consumer protections contained in the ACP Bill, while ensuring the levy is applied equitably.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the House of Representatives and read a first time.
House · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
The minister moved the second reading, opening debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee
Report due 19 Jun 2026
The bill was referred to the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, with a report due on 19 June 2026.
Referred to Committee (1 Apr 2026): Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee; Report due 19 June 2026
APH bill page notesSenate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills
Considered in Scrutiny Digest 6 of 2026
The APH notes record that the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills considered the bill in Scrutiny Digest 6 of 2026.
Considered by scrutiny committee (6 May 2026): Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills; Scrutiny Digest 6 of 2026
APH bill page notes