Abbott point-scoring over Qantas: Albanese

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott is using the dispute between Qantas and unions to score political points, federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese says.

“It’s no surprise that Tony Abbott has tried to make political capital out of this … once again he has chosen to act in his political interest rather than in the national interest,” Mr Albanese told reporters in Sydney on Sunday.

Mr Abbott called on Sunday for Prime Minister Julia Gillard to use powers under industrial legislation to get Qantas flying again.

“Every hour that this dispute goes on is an hour that’s wasted from people’s lives because the prime minister is refusing to take the steps that she can take and she could take under the industrial legislation.”

Mr Abbott said that under Section 431 of the Fair Work Act the government can “on its own motion” terminate an industrial dispute.

“If the dispute were terminated the planes would be back in the sky within hours,” he said.

But Mr Albanese said the opposition leader was singing a different tune.

“Tony Abbott wasn’t weeks ago calling for the government to intervene in this dispute.

“There were a range of other options open for Qantas which would not have resulted in the sort of disruption that we have seen.”

He said there was a range of options available to the government had Qantas asked them to intervene.

“What the government wants is for Qantas to be up and flying again as soon as possible.

“The government also wants the parties to act like adults and get an outcome.”

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