This bill is currently before Parliament.
Transport & communications
This is a supporting bill for the proposed Aviation Consumer Protection Act 2026.
The government introduced this bill to make the machinery changes needed if the main Aviation Consumer Protection Act 2026 is enacted. Its two practical jobs are to keep the new consumer protection standards separate from Air Navigation ActAn existing Commonwealth aviation law. This bill would clarify that the new aviation consumer protection law is not part of the Air Navigation Act licensing condition for aircraft entering or leaving Australia. licensing consequences, and to move existing Aircraft Noise Ombudsman complaints and records into the new statutory Aircraft Noise OmbudspersonThe statutory aircraft noise complaints function proposed in the main bill. This consequential bill deals with moving certain existing complaints and records into that new arrangement. arrangements.
This bill sits inside a larger aviation consumer protection package. The explanatory memorandum says the main package responds to long-running concerns about airline and airport service standards, complaint handling, and aircraft noise complaints. This particular bill is narrower: it clears up how the new framework interacts with existing Air Navigation ActAn existing Commonwealth aviation law. This bill would clarify that the new aviation consumer protection law is not part of the Air Navigation Act licensing condition for aircraft entering or leaving Australia. licensing rules and handles transition to the new statutory noise ombudsperson.
The collected bundle does not include opposition debate, divisions, or proposed amendments criticising this bill. The main concern recorded in the official materials comes from consultation on the broader framework: some stakeholders wanted clearer separation between systemic enforcement and individual complaint resolution. The government says the final framework separates those roles between the Aviation Consumer Protection AuthorityThe regulatory function within the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts that the main bill would use for monitoring, compliance and enforcement. and an independent ombuds schemeThe external dispute resolution scheme the main bill would allow the minister to authorise for aviation-specific consumer complaints..
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 proposed Aviation Consumer Protection Act 2026. It deals with consequential and transitional matters, rather than setting up the main aviation consumer protection framework itself.
The whole bill would start at the same time as section 3 of the main Aviation Consumer Protection Act 2026. If that section never starts, this bill's provisions would not start either.
It would amend the Air Navigation Act 1920An existing Commonwealth aviation law. This bill would clarify that the new aviation consumer protection law is not part of the Air Navigation Act licensing condition for aircraft entering or leaving Australia. so that a breach of the new aviation consumer protection law, or instruments made under it, is not treated as a breach of the Air Navigation ActAn existing Commonwealth aviation law. This bill would clarify that the new aviation consumer protection law is not part of the Air Navigation Act licensing condition for aircraft entering or leaving Australia. licensing condition for aircraft entering or leaving Australia.
It would move eligible unresolved aircraft noise complaints from the current non-statutory Aircraft Noise Ombudsman process into the new Aircraft Noise OmbudspersonThe statutory aircraft noise complaints function proposed in the main bill. This consequential bill deals with moving certain existing complaints and records into that new arrangement. arrangements created by the main bill.
It would also require relevant documents and records held by the existing Aircraft Noise Ombudsman to be transferred to the new Aircraft Noise OmbudspersonThe statutory aircraft noise complaints function proposed in the main bill. This consequential bill deals with moving certain existing complaints and records into that new arrangement. after commencement.
A Bill for an Act to deal with consequential and transitional matters arising from the enactment of the Aviation Consumer Protection Act 2026, and for related purposesIntroduced bill text
At the same time as section 3 of the Aviation Consumer Protection Act 2026 commences. However, the provisions do not commence at all if that section does not commence.Introduced bill text
This amendment is made to clarify that compliance with the Aviation Consumer Protection Act 2026 (and instruments made under) including requirements specified in the Charter or Standards, is not linked to the system of licensing, permissions and approvals under the Air Navigation Act.Explanatory memorandum
The complaint is taken, on and after commencement, to be a complaint made under section 58 of the new Act.Introduced bill text
The document or records are to be transferred to the Aircraft Noise Ombudsperson after commencement.Introduced bill text
Context
This bill sits inside a larger aviation consumer protection package. The explanatory memorandum says the main package responds to long-running concerns about airline and airport service standards, complaint handling, and aircraft noise complaints. This particular bill is narrower: it clears up how the new framework interacts with existing Air Navigation ActAn existing Commonwealth aviation law. This bill would clarify that the new aviation consumer protection law is not part of the Air Navigation Act licensing condition for aircraft entering or leaving Australia. licensing rules and handles transition to the new statutory noise ombudsperson.
Earlier aviation policy expected industry complaint handling to improve
The explanatory memorandum says the 2009 National Aviation Policy White Paper led to the Airline Customer Advocate in 2012, with government monitoring whether more intervention would be needed.
Explanatory memorandum ↗Aviation White Paper found the existing advocate model was not enough
The explanatory memorandum says the 2024 Aviation White Paper concluded that the industry-led Airline Customer Advocate had not delivered an effective or trusted complaint resolution mechanism.
Explanatory memorandum ↗Government consulted on the consumer protection framework
The consultation sought views on a statutory charterThe proposed charter under the main Aviation Consumer Protection Bill 2026 that would set minimum standards for airline and airport services., regulator and ombuds functions, compliance and enforcement, and accessibility for passengers with disability or reduced mobility.
Explanatory memorandum ↗Consequential bill introduced with the aviation consumer protection 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 notesKey criticism
The collected bundle does not include opposition debate, divisions, or proposed amendments criticising this bill. The main concern recorded in the official materials comes from consultation on the broader framework: some stakeholders wanted clearer separation between systemic enforcement and individual complaint resolution. The government says the final framework separates those roles between the Aviation Consumer Protection AuthorityThe regulatory function within the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts that the main bill would use for monitoring, compliance and enforcement. and an independent ombuds schemeThe external dispute resolution scheme the main bill would allow the minister to authorise for aviation-specific consumer complaints..
Absence of collected criticism is not evidence that no criticism exists; it reflects the available local source bundle for this page.
Separation between regulator and ombuds functions
The explanatory memorandum says some stakeholders were concerned that, without clearer separation of systemic enforcement and individual complaint resolution, the broader framework might not meet consumer and industry objectives. The bill package reflects that feedback by separating the regulator and ombuds roles.
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 a narrow companion measure.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
1 speaker · 1 support
“The consequential bill also ensures a smooth transition from the current non-legislated Aircraft Noise Ombudsperson (ANO) in Airservices Australia to the new independent, statutory ANO arrangements.”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 notes