Scott Morrison and the LNP need to take responsibility for the loss of 3000 job losses Virgin Australia announced today.

The Morrison Government rejected eight letters asking for assistance from Virgin Australia, preferring to allow the airline to fall into voluntary administration rather than take action to protect regional routes and jobs.

 Any cuts to regional routes will be devastating to Queensland’s economic recovery.

 Tourism supports 20,000 jobs in Far North Queensland and close to 8000 jobs in the Mackay-Whitsunday-Isaac region.

 Cairns-based Labor Senator Nita Green said she warned the Morrison Government back in April that job losses and cuts to regional routes would be at risk if they failed to protect Australia’s two airline-system.

 “My thoughts are with Virgin Australia’s 9000 workers and their families during this difficult time,” Senator Green said.

 “One of the biggest concerns is that the regional routes like Proserpine, Hayman Island and Cairns will be cut.

 “Labor wasn’t alone in warning the Morrison Government this would happen. LNP Senator Matt Canavan said back in April that jobs and services in regional Queensland would be at risk without Government action.”

 The Morrison Government has failed the aviation sector more broadly with their decision to deny JobKeeper to thousands of essential aviation workers.

 During Australia’s first recession in three decades, the Government’s own figures show 240,000 workers are expected to lose their jobs by Christmas – and the LNP have no plan to protect these jobs.

 Every job lost means the economic recovery will be longer and harder.

 Pre-COVID-19 flight schedules reveal hundreds of flights per week are at risk in regional Queensland including up to:

• Cairns: 84
• Hamilton Island: 19
• Mackay: 42
• Proserpine: 14
• Townsville: 49

MEDIA CONTACT: JACOB WILSON 0457 961 596