Aviation Consumer Protection Levy (Collection) Bill 2026; Second Reading

Summary

Airlines and airports will pay charges (called levies) to fund a new Aviation Consumer Protection Authority that enforces a Consumer Charter and handles systemic complaints about airline and airport services. This collection legislation works alongside the Aviation Consumer Protection Bill 2026 and the Aviation Consumer Protection Levy Bill 2026 to set up the payment system — specifying when levies are due, allowing instalments, and imposing penalties for late payment. The framework creates two separate complaint-handling bodies: the Aviation Consumer Protection Authority focuses on enforcing industry-wide standards for things like flight disruptions and accessibility, while a separate Aviation Consumer Ombudsperson scheme handles individual passenger complaints. For travellers, this means minimum standards for how airlines must treat passengers during delays and cancellations, and a clearer way to get disputes resolved outside the courts.

What happens at this stage

The main debate on whether the chamber supports the broad purpose of the bill. Members speak to its overall merits and concerns rather than the fine print. The government outlines its policy intentions; the opposition and crossbench put their case. This is the stage that determines whether the bill proceeds at all.

Next: Consideration in Detail (House) or Committee of the Whole (Senate), where the bill is examined clause by clause