REGIONAL FLIGHTS — BROOME–DERBY
303. Ms D.G. D'ANNA to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's efforts in improving the affordability of flights across
regional Western Australia, including throughout the Kimberley.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house what the new flights between Broome and Derby
will mean for those in my electorate?
(2) Can the
minister update the house on how this initiative builds on the McGowan Labor
government's record of making it easier for Western Australians in
regional and remote parts of the state to travel throughout their communities?
Ms R.
SAFFIOTI replied:
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for Kimberley for the question. The recommencement of flights
between Broome and Derby from 16 August is indeed welcome news for the people
in the Kimberley, and in particular the people
of Derby. We gave a commitment to the people of the Kimberley to get flights
happening once again out of Derby. We went to the market—obviously,
the Liberal Party does not like that much and will not go to the market—and tested interest and we got a successful
tenderer that will commence these flights on 16 August. It will be $119 each way from Derby to Broome and there will
be three flights per week. Of course, this is all about making sure that we can
generate enough interest and activity that these flights can then stand on
their own feet in the future. There will be a level of subsidy in the meantime,
but this is all about restarting those flights. We know that accessible,
affordable flights are fundamental to regional WA, in particular in areas where
driving is sometimes too hard and prohibitive.
Let us go through some of the
initiatives we have taken since this election. These are already the
initiatives we have worked to introduce since March 2021, of course, with the
respective companies out there. We have worked with Northern Star Resources and
Alliance Airlines to launch a trial of a $199 community airfare between Perth and Kalgoorlie, representing an additional 2 000
seats per annum into the market. We have worked with BHP and Alliance
Airlines to launch reduced $299 community fares into Port Hedland and Newman,
representing over 15 000 affordable seats per annum. We have also doubled the
number of flights from Onslow from three to six flights per week. We continue
to work with all the airlines across Western Australia supporting accessible,
affordable airfares.
Mr P. Papalia: I know a party
that did nothing.
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI: I know a party that
did nothing, too, and that is the National Party, which did nothing on this
issue. It is a pity that the member for North West Central is not here, yet
again. He has obviously jumped onto a cheap airfare! This issue is often raised
in this place, yet we are out there delivering. I am so proud to have landed
this one.
Several members interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI: I actually
did not mean that!
Several members interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI: I did not
mean that pun!
I am proud to make sure that the
people of the Kimberley, and particularly Derby, get the services that they
have been wanting for so many years. It is great to be able to deliver that new
service to the people of Derby.