The Transport Workers Union today said that any deal between the Qantas group of companies and Malaysia’s AirAsia must have best practice safety, security and employment conditions as a priority.

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Transport Workers Union national airport organiser, Scott Connolly, said that employees across the group of companies had expressed concerns about whether safety and security standards and conditions would be maintained under any deal.

“In light of the recent Christmas terrorism attempt in the United States, corporations in Australia should working to ensure our aviation industry is as safe and secure as it possibly can be ,” Mr Connolly said.

“Over the last six months we have had reports of bags not being scanned before going on flights due to a lack of resources and contracting practices, and we need to be sure that every flight entering or leaving Australia is as safe as possible.

“Just in December, the head of corporate affairs for Qantas said that the company could not be held responsible for the industrial relations of it contractors. Well the TWU believes it should be held accountable – especially when the policies of those contractors can lead to short staffing levels.

“We do not want the average Australian family to find out at 30,000 feet that they have been short changed on safety or security," Mr Connolly said.