Regional Air Services

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (15:02): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, representing the Minister for Regional Development, a question.

Leave granted.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: Rex Airlines has announced that it will immediately axe five return flights between Adelaide and Mount Gambier per week, including key flights at the start and end of the working week. New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia all have regulated air routes. Under these arrangements airlines tender to win the right to operate a route for a defined period with more certainty and less fear of competition. This helps to guarantee a level of service to destinations that might otherwise be vulnerable to cuts in our services.

Other states do it in circumstances where there is insufficient passenger demand to support airline competition. Regional air services are very much the lifeblood of regional, rural and remote communities and need to be maintained to their highest standard wherever possible. My question to the minister is: will the South Australian government move to implement a regulated air route between Adelaide and Mount Gambier?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (15:03): I thank the honourable member for his question. He has asked me in my capacity representing the Minister for Regional Development. I met with the Minister for Regional Development this morning to have a discussion around Rex Airlines and the reduction of services, and the meetings and discussions that he has had with Rex Airlines. I am also aware of the regulated route, which is actually the responsibility, I believe, of the Minister for Transport, Planning and Infrastructure, the Hon. Stephan Knoll.

I will refer the honourable member's question to the Hon. Stephan Knoll because I think he is the minister looking at the regulated route concept. He has made some brief comments to the media today that he is getting his department to have a look at it to see if that is an option. I thank the honourable member for his question. I will not refer it to the Minister for Regional Development but to the minister who I think is responsible for the regulated routes.