REGIONAL AIRFARES
290. Hon JACQUI BOYDELL to the minister representing the
Minister for Transport:
I refer to the member for Pilbara's
comments made at the Karratha regional airfare and air services workshop on 21 March
that one solution to the lack of affordable airfares in regional areas was for
all regional residents—families of up to two adults and three children—to
be provided two return airfares annually.
(1) Is this a policy
that the state government is actively pursuing?
(2) How will such
a program be funded and administered?
(3) Have the Minister
for Transport or the member for Pilbara had any meetings or correspondence with
any airlines to discuss this idea further?
(4) If yes to
(3), will the minister table the details of the meetings?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
I note that the member for Pilbara
is a great regional member and a strong advocate for his community, who is
engaging constructively on the issue of regional airfares.
(1)–(4) The
regional airfare and air services workshops, facilitated by the Department of
Transport, present an opportunity for key stakeholders to identify and discuss
innovative and collaborative approaches to address the concerns raised during
the parliamentary inquiry into regional airfares in Western Australia. The
outputs of these workshops will help to inform the draft State Aviation
Strategy.
The member for Pilbara constantly
raises issues in his electorate, including the issue of affordable airfares.