Question Time

Rex Airlines

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:20): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the minister for trade, tourism and investment regarding airline flights.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: On 29 May 2018, the then minister for tourism told the council that 'it is disappointing when a regional airline reduces services' after Rex Airlines reduced the frequency of its flights to Mount Gambier. Later that year, on 1 August, the then minister for tourism entertained the council with stories about his visits to the boardrooms of both Rex and Qantas. Specifically, the minister said, 'I assured them that we will have a very different approach'.

My question to the minister is: if it's disappointing when a regional airline reduces its services to the area, how does the minister describe it when an airline completely cancels all services to a regional centre?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade and Investment) (14:21): I would remind the honourable member that, as flattered as I am that he still refers to me as the minister for trade, tourism and investment, I now am the Minister for Trade and Investment. Yes, I did visit Rex Airlines in that year, when he mentioned that I had visited them. It was interesting that Rex at that point in time had been operating, as we said, for all of the time the previous Labor government had been in power and had not had one visit from anybody from the former government.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Wortley will listen in silence.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: I went there in my capacity as the minister for tourism to speak to them about flights to and from South Australia and to regional South Australia. In relation to the current circumstances, I personally haven't spoken to Rex. I know that the Minister for Tourism has spoken to Rex, so I will take the rest of that question on notice and refer it to the minister in the other place.