SENATOR THE HON BRIDGET MCKENZIE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
LEADER OF THE NATIONALS IN THE SENATE
SENATOR FOR VICTORIA
MEDIA RELEASE
26 June 2024
LABOR HAD 10 DAYS OF KNOWLEDGE OF LOOMING BONZA CRASH BUT FAILED TO TELL CUSTOMERS
The Albanese Labor Government allowed Bonza to keep selling tickets to Australian families for almost two weeks despite knowing the airline was crippled financially and subject to default notices on its planes.
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure Transport and Regional Development, Senator Bridget McKenzie said the Labor Government withheld information from the public about Bonza’s dire financial situation prior to the airline being grounded, resulting in thousands of customers being stranded at airports around the country.
“Department officials have admitted to Senate Estimates the Government was aware Bonza had received default notices on the lease of its planes and needed a financial bail-out ten days before the airline’s planes were grounded and flights cancelled.
“Crisis meetings were held between the Government and Bonza over the weekend of 20 – 21 April 2024 to discuss the airline’s parlous financial position,” Senator McKenzie said.
“The Department admitted they briefed Transport Minister Catherine King on those meetings the same day, but the Minister failed to inform customers or the public about the severe risk to the business or the potential pre-booked flights could be in jeopardy.
“The Department was receiving updates from Bonza up to 29 April 2024, the day before the airline was grounded,” Senator McKenzie said.
Senator McKenzie said the Government and Minister King have serious questions to answer as to what exactly they knew about the airline’s position before planes were grounded, and whether Labor suspected the business may have been trading insolvent.
“Just one day after the airline was grounded, the Minister told media it was unlikely the airline would get up and operating again. This is a clear sign the Minister knew more about the business than she had admitted to the public.
“Minister King must be transparent about what she knew and when.
“The Minister’s failure to act promptly and transparently is a significant lapse in her duty to protect consumers.
“Minister King should immediately apologise to Bonza’s customers, employees and creditors for not alerting the public or the corporate regulator about the airline’s position at any stage in the 10 days prior to the airline’s grounding,” Senator McKenzie said.
ENDS.