Steve Creedy's latest piece, I assume to pre-empt the publicity into Monday's pineappling "uh urm" questioning that is sure to ensue. As always full of very carefully worded factual statements, most probably authored by OW that do not paint the proper picture.
JETSTAR has capped the number of domestic sectors foreign-based crew can fly on international services as top executives face another Senate grilling on the issue on Monday.
The move came after a Fair Work Ombudsman investigation expressed concern about the number of domestic sectors some foreign crew members were flying on international tag flights.
About 60 of Jetstar's 3000 weekly flights are tag flights, the domestic sector of international flight such as Singapore-Melbourne-Darwin, mostly on smaller Airbus A320 aircraft.
Tag flights allow airlines to optimise scheduling and add an additional destination and traffic feed to make otherwise unviable international routes profitable.
It is understood a detailed analysis of Jetstars rostering by the FWA found a limited number of overseas-based staff who flew a high number of routes between their arrival in Australia and subsequent departure, including one who operated 15 sectors.
The finding prompted a review of Jetstar's rostering practices and a cap on overseas-based staff flying more than four successive international tag flights between Australian ports. This would allow a foreign crew member, for example, to operate Singapore-Darwin-Melbourne-Sydney-Melbourne-Darwin-Singapore.
The use of foreign-based crew and the rules governing them are likely to be a hot issue as Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce and Jetstar boss Bruce Buchanan front a senate inquiry on Monday morning.
Unions have argued that foreign staff, who are work under rates and conditions applicable to their home base, should work under Australian wages and conditions while in Australia. They claim the use of overseas-based staff is an attempt to undermine Australian jobs.
But airlines argue the common industry practice is necessary to make some routes viable.
Jetstar has warned it would be put at a disadvantage and would have to shut down overseas flights involving tags if Independent Senator Nick Xenophon is successful in changing civil aviation laws. Senator Xenophon has proposed making Australian wages and conditions mandatory for overseas crew operating domestic sectors on Australian international airlines and their subsidiaries. He is also proposing strengthened rules on cabin crew fatigue after it emerged some foreign crew were working long hours to staff tag flights.
Jetstar yesterday confirmed it had moved to close a rostering loophole that led to overseas-based staff flying a higher number of flights in Australia.
A spokesman said the roster process that led to the high concentration of domestic flights was inadvertent and emphasised that overseas staff work only on international tag services and not on purely domestic Jetstar flights.
"Several airlines use overseas-based cabin crew on flights with international flight numbers that fly between Australian cities on their way into or out of the country," the spokesman said.
Here are my thoughts:
Keep it simple: what is the definition of a domestic flight?? Is it the arbitrary number allocated to a sector by an airline, most probably to suit whatever circumstances they need or is it just simply a flight between two Australian airports where
nobody on board needs to pass through immigration either immediately prior to departure or immediately on arrival? Seems simple to me!!
Tag flights allow airlines to optimise scheduling and add an additional destination and traffic feed to make otherwise unviable international routes profitable.
Yes maybe so but if some of the operational arrangements to make them happen are illegal due immigration or fair work legislation you cannot do it! A business must always operate within the laws of the country or face the consequences. Nobody in this country is above the law unless something has changed since I studied. It is interesting that whilst it seems that BB may have struck a deal with fair work to soften the blow it also may give him an out for his potentially contemptuous statements at the last sitting. Whilst it may be acceptable to FWA ( although I don't see how) it would be interesting to get Minister Chris Bowen's input from an immigration perspective!! I have seen people on the border security tv programme get deported for less by Bowen's army!!
Maybe someone should ask minister Bowen how this practice has gone undetected or indeed un-investigated following numerous calls to the immigration Dob-in line. .... and under the noses of your many border security staff based at our country's major airports too!!! Embarrassing!!!
At the moment the issue is just hanging in mid-air with both sides denying any wrong doing. Get the issue in front of a judge and let's have some clarity over the law. If. BB wins then the flood gates will open for all companies to import labour and our immigration laws will be in tatters!!
Jetstar has warned it would be put at a disadvantage and would have to shut down overseas flights involving tags
Classic!! Break the rules and then plead poverty when you get found out. Government shouldn't be too concerned as these flights are operated be Jetstar Asia as far as I am aware so the tax on the profit from them is not swelling the Aus governments coffers.
How about you re-word the sentence to say "Jetstar has warned it would no longer be put at an advantage and would have to shut down overseas flights involving tags"
About 60 of Jetstar's 3000 weekly flights are tag flights, the domestic sector of international flight such as Singapore-Melbourne-Darwin, mostly on smaller Airbus A320 aircraft.
Don't try and make the problem seem relatively insignificant and appear not to be worth wasting the government's time on Mr Creedy. Illegal is illegal and it is just that BB has been caught out - again!!
Your statement about being an internal glitch or oversight is absolute nonsense. BB and AJ knew this was going on given their cocky responses on previous visits to Canberra where they denied any wrong doing. FWA and DIAC should identify every breach and use the full extent of the legislation to bring them and the companies they preside over to task.
But airlines argue the common industry practice is necessary to make some routes viable.
"Several airlines use overseas-based cabin crew on flights with international flight numbers that fly between Australian cities on their way into or out of the country," the spokesman said.
Yes but they don't pick up domestic passengers on the way other than those who were at some time passengers on the international leg!!
More to Follow.....on Monday!!
The Kelpie