Australian pilots have made it probably the most efficient industry in Australia
Owen - it's about so much more than IR, although that is one of the hot topics for any employee.
What about airport privatisation?
What about CASA & ASA Cost recovery?
What about CASA regulations?
What about the cost of compliance with those constantly changing regulations?
What about the knock-on effects on the slowly shrinking GA industry: loss of "uneconomical" fuel facilities, loss of maintenance expertise, loss of maintenance support?
Many of these issues we see in aviation are common problems across many industries - our particular problem is that our margins in Aviation (and GA in particular) are so small, yet the industry is so important so so many aspects of Australian life.
I would suggest that the Nats are the only ones with a policy because they are the only party that isn't totally weighted towards the cities, and they can actually understand the importance of Aviation to their communities.