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Aviation Consumer Protection Levy (Collection)

Current status

This bill is currently before Parliament.

Policy area

Budget, tax & economy

What does this bill do?

This is a supporting bill for the aviation consumer protection package.

Why was it introduced?

The government introduced this bill to make the 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. inside the infrastructure department; this collection bill explains how levyThe annual levy that would fund regulatory and administrative costs for the Aviation Consumer Protection Authority. This bill deals with collecting it, while a separate levy bill deals with imposing it. payments, late payment penalties, waivers, refunds, returns and review rights would be administered.

Broader 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 gives the government collection rules for the annual levyThe annual levy that would fund regulatory and administrative costs for the Aviation Consumer Protection Authority. This bill deals with collecting it, while a separate levy bill deals with imposing it. intended to recover the regulator's administrative and regulatory costs.

Key criticism

The collected bundle does not include opposition debate, divisions, or proposed amendments criticising this collection bill. The main concern recorded in the official materials is indirect: consultation on the broader framework shaped the separation between systemic enforcement by the Aviation Consumer Protection AuthorityA regulatory function inside the federal infrastructure department that would enforce the proposed aviation consumer protection framework. and individual complaint resolution through an ombuds schemeThe separate external dispute resolution scheme proposed in the main aviation consumer protection package for individual airline and airport complaints..

Who supported it?

Hon Catherine King MP introduced this bill. Supportive speeches so far have come from Labor.

Introduced in House 01 Apr 2026
At second reading in House 01 Apr 2026
Not yet reached Senate —
Not yet law —

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.

Official record

View on APH

Parliament of Australia bill page

Meaning

What does this bill do?

  1. This is a supporting bill for the aviation consumer protection package. It would set up the machinery for collecting an annual levyThe annual levy that would fund regulatory and administrative costs for the Aviation Consumer Protection Authority. This bill deals with collecting it, while a separate levy bill deals with imposing it. from regulated aviation entities, rather than creating the main passenger rights framework itself.

  2. The levyThe annual levy that would fund regulatory and administrative costs for the Aviation Consumer Protection Authority. This bill deals with collecting it, while a separate levy bill deals with imposing it. would help recover the administration and regulatory costs of the Aviation Consumer Protection AuthorityA regulatory function inside the federal infrastructure department that would enforce the proposed aviation consumer protection framework., the departmental regulator that would enforce the proposed 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..

  3. Regulations would set practical collection details, including when the levyThe annual levy that would fund regulatory and administrative costs for the Aviation Consumer Protection Authority. This bill deals with collecting it, while a separate levy bill deals with imposing it. is due, whether it can be paid in instalments, and what returns an entity must give the department about its levyThe annual levy that would fund regulatory and administrative costs for the Aviation Consumer Protection Authority. This bill deals with collecting it, while a separate levy bill deals with imposing it. liability.

  4. If an entity does not pay on time, the bill would allow a late payment penaltyAn extra amount payable if levy remains unpaid after it becomes due. The introduced bill sets a default annual rate of 20 per cent unless regulations set a lower rate. of 20 per cent per year on the unpaid amount, unless regulations set a lower rate.

  5. The department secretaryThe head of the infrastructure department. Under this bill, levy and late payment amounts would be payable to the Secretary on behalf of the Commonwealth. could waive levyThe annual levy that would fund regulatory and administrative costs for the Aviation Consumer Protection Authority. This bill deals with collecting it, while a separate levy bill deals with imposing it. or late payment amounts in exceptional circumstances, and affected entities would have internal review and Administrative Review TribunalThe federal merits review body that could review specified decisions under this bill after the internal review process, or for certain decisions made personally by the Secretary. review pathways for specified decisions.

Show source excerpts
  1. The Aviation Consumer Protection Levy (Collection) Bill 2026 (the Collection Bill), together with the Aviation Consumer Protection Levy Bill 2026 (the Levy Bill), form a package of legislation designed to provide for the imposition and collection of levies to cost recover administration costs associated with the Aviation Consumer Protection Bill 2026 (the ACP Bill).
    Explanatory memorandum
  2. The cost recovery charges are intended to recover the costs of activities carried out by the Aviation Consumer Protection Authority (ACPA), which the ACP Bill establishes as a regulatory function within the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts.
    Explanatory memorandum
  3. The regulations may prescribe when levy becomes due and payable and may provide for levy to be paid in instalments.
    Introduced bill text
  4. If any levy payable by an entity remains unpaid after the time the levy becomes due for payment, the entity is liable to pay, by way of penalty, an amount calculated at the rate of: (a) 20% per annum; or (b) if a lower rate per annum is specified in the regulations--that lower rate per annum.
    Introduced bill text
  5. The Secretary may, on behalf of the Commonwealth, waive the payment of a whole or a part of one or more of the following amounts payable by an entity if the Secretary is satisfied that there are exceptional circumstances justifying the waiver.
    Introduced bill text

Context

Broader context for this bill

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 gives the government collection rules for the annual levyThe annual levy that would fund regulatory and administrative costs for the Aviation Consumer Protection Authority. This bill deals with collecting it, while a separate levy bill deals with imposing it. intended to recover the regulator's administrative and regulatory costs.

  1. Aug 2024

    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 ↗
  2. Aug-Sep 2024

    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 ↗
  3. Dec 2024-Mar 2025

    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 ↗
  4. Sep-Oct 2025

    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 ↗
  5. 01 Apr 2026

    Collection 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

How did it move through Parliament?

House Senate
Introduced 01 Apr 2026

The bill was formally presented to the House of Representatives and read a first time.

Introduced and read a first time

Second reading opened 01 Apr 2026

The minister moved the second reading, opening debate on the bill's purpose and principles.

Second reading moved

Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport review 01 Apr 2026

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 notes

Key criticism

The main case against this bill

The collected bundle does not include opposition debate, divisions, or proposed amendments criticising this collection bill. The main concern recorded in the official materials is indirect: consultation on the broader framework shaped the separation between systemic enforcement by the Aviation Consumer Protection AuthorityA regulatory function inside the federal infrastructure department that would enforce the proposed aviation consumer protection framework. and individual complaint resolution through an ombuds schemeThe separate external dispute resolution scheme proposed in the main aviation consumer protection package for individual airline and airport complaints..

Absence of collected criticism is not evidence that no criticism exists; it reflects the available local source bundle for this page.

Further sources

aph.gov.au ↗

Votes

Recorded votes

No recorded votes have been found yet for this bill.

Parliamentary debate

Who spoke, and what they said

Start here — lead voices

Sponsor speech Supports

Catherine King

Australian Labor Party • MP 01 Apr 2026

Catherine King presented the bill as the collection machinery for levies linked to the Aviation Consumer Protection Bill.

Read in Hansard ↗

All speeches by bloc

Labor

1 speaker · 1 support

  1. Catherine King ★ Catherine King presented the bill as the collection machinery for levies linked to the Aviation Consumer Protection Bill.
    “The collection bill outlines the process for the collection of these charges, ensuring that the levies imposed on regulated entities are effectively managed and distributed.”

    Australian Labor Party • MP • 01 Apr 2026

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗

Record

Full record

Full chat