Tamworth, Armidale airports could be without staff as aviation package fails to land

The federal government's package will see airline staff paid up to $750 per week through their company, but the problem is very few ground workers at regional airports are actually employed by an airline.

In fact, in Tamworth not a single 'general aviation' worker is employed by an airline, with 100 per cent of the workforce being provided by a third party.

Jobs carried out by these people include check-in, baggage handling, security assessments, ground engineering, cleaning aircrafts and inflight catering.

Ann-Maree Jackson from the Australian Aviation Ground Handling Industry Alliance (AAGHIA) said without support for these people, it will be difficult to keep them.

"Given the last 18 months aviation has really been on a rollercoaster ride, there's only a point that our staff can stay stood down, and not have any income," she said.

"We've already got our staff at Tamworth Airport out having secondary employment, whether that be driving a bobcat or working at a major supermarket, and I'm not sure we're going to get them back."

The major problem with that is, according to Ms Jackson, that it's not simple to replace airport staff.

It requires months of training and lengthy security checks by agencies such as the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation before a worker can even start.

She fears this could leave the airport out of action during what many are hoping will be a busy holiday period, if the country is sufficiently vaccinated and state borders reopen.

"There wouldn't be any staff available to put their [passengers] bags on aircrafts, or to check them in, it's as simple as that," she said.

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Member for New England and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, who announced the support package, said he wished he could have included everybody, but it would have come at a huge cost to the government and taxpayers.

He said it is important to keep planes in the air, and one of the best ways to do that is to open up the country by reaching the 70 per cent full vaccination rate set out as a goal by the federal government.

"If the planes stop then even after we get COVID under control somewhat, they won't get their jobs back because there'll be no bloody planes," he said.

"The last thing I want is planes parked in the desert, because no baggage handler gets their job back after that."

He urged people who are resisting vaccinations to think about the likes of airport workers, who are struggling while travel remains restricted.

The deputy PM had a very strong message for those refusing to get the jab.

"It's more than just about you, it's about our whole damn economy," he said.

But Stuart Richardson, who's also a member of AAGHIA, said he holds grave concerns for Armidale Airport - right now.

He said some companies at the airport have gone from employing five people to only giving two workers, eight hours a week.

Armidale airport also relies completely on third-party employees for ground aviation operations and he fears it will face similar problems.

"The ability for us to retain staff is negligible, and if the airlines do want to ramp up when the majority of the population is vaccinated, then where do you get staff members from," he said.

"The biggest issue we've got is the engagement of staff within the business and within the airport, to retain them so they're not looking for other jobs, and I think that's what our leaders are not understanding."

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