The federal Senate has opened an inquiry into the high cost of travel to the regions.
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Parliament has tasked the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee to provide a report by March 30, 2018 into “the operation, regulation and funding of air route service delivery to rural, regional and remote communities.”
The inquiry will look at social and economic impacts of air route supply and airfare pricing, policy and pricing frameworks, how airlines determine fare pricing, airport charges, subsidies, regulated routes and residents' fares, airline competition, aircraft supply and CASA charges.
Queensland Senator Barry O’Sullivan said the inquiry was about equity for regional Australia.
“We've got some very atrocious examples of gouging where it costs up to $2000 for people to travel the same distances it costs them $78 to travel between the metros, including people who require constant medical attention and are having to go to the cities,” he said. “This has to be brought to an end.”
There will be two public hearings in Queensland though it has not yet been determined where they will be held.
You can make a submission at the parliament website.
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
