TOURISM —
REGIONAL AVIATION RECOVERY PROGRAM
814. Mr K.J.J. MICHEL to the Minister for Tourism:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's significant investment in keeping WA safe and strong,
which includes the biggest investment in regional flights in the state's
history.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house what this unprecedented investment in regional
aviation will mean for workers, businesses and operators in the WA tourism
industry?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how this investment will help to support towns and
communities across regional Western Australia?
Mr P. PAPALIA replied:
I thank the member for his question and his solid support for
tourism outcomes in Australia's north west.
(1)–(2)
The regional aviation recovery program is
one measure implemented in this fantastic budget that is responding to
the unprecedented challenge that we confront. An amount of $21.4 million is
going towards regional aviation outcomes to open up and make more available and
accessible some of our magnificent destinations. We have started with three in
the north, with 50 000 affordable seats to Exmouth, Broome, Kununurra—18 000 to Exmouth, 20 000 to
Broome and, for next season, some 13 000 additional affordable flights
to Kununurra. It will cost $149 to travel one way from Perth to Exmouth in the
low season. For all destinations flights will be available from those
destinations to Perth, which, as pointed out by the chair of Tourism WA to the
tourism industry at a function I was at yesterday, will assist inner city
hotels that are struggling a little to fill rooms and will affordably get
people from the regions to Perth for a break.
Tickets
are $149 in the low season and $169 in the high season. People have to book in
advance with Qantas or their travel agent, who might be able to get them
a package of some description or an additional deal. Getting to Exmouth is more
affordable than ever before. To Broome, there are 20 000 seats under $200 one
way. It is $199 one way and $199 back the other way. That is with Virgin. I guarantee
that Qantas will match that. Qantas will respond to the pressure in the market
as a consequence of these deals with Virgin, because it did that recently when
we announced the 8 000 flights up to Broome and Kununurra. I am sure Qantas
will respond again. Tickets to Kununurra will be $249. This is for next season.
The
East Kimberley is doing it tough. It is at the end of the road. It is a bit of
a cul-de-sac. It is a little harder for people to get up there. We have
already done 2 300 affordable flights with Virgin—all of those tickets were sold in less than a week. The people up there
asked us for one thing and one thing only. When we did a round table with some
50 or 60 businesses up there, their only priority was to get certainty around
affordable flights next year, and we have given them that. We have delivered on
what they requested. Tickets will cost $249. There will be five flights a week
with Virgin. It is a magnificent outcome for the businesses up there. They will
be taking bookings. The Broome and Exmouth flights are available from November.
The ones to Kununurra are available for booking, but they will be for next year's
season. I am sure that Kununurra and the East Kimberley will see the biggest
tourism year they have probably ever experienced.
I
commend all these flights to everyone in the state, and particularly those
people in the metropolitan area. Get out to the regions and support
them, particularly in the low season, which is rapidly approaching. As the
Premier indicated to me, it is really hard to get these flights as they are
selling rapidly. They are going fast, so get onto the airlines or travel agents
and make bookings now, because you may miss out if you do not get in quick,
even though there are 50 000 tickets—more than ever before.