Rex Airlines

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:23): Further supplementary arising from the original answer: is there going to be any impact on trade and investment directed at Kangaroo Island as a result of an airline no longer flying there?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade and Investment) (14:23): It's early days. We expect to see Rex, as I said, continue for some period of time before they cease those flights. There's a whole range of factors that will impact on investment and trade with Kangaroo Island. Clearly, Rex don't take any grain off the island, any sheep off the island, and lots of the produce are not flown out by Rex or, in fact, for that matter Qantas. So once we've had a good season with Kangaroo Island grain—the livestock numbers are down, so that will be some time for those stock numbers to rebuild.

I don't think there will be any huge impacts with Rex pulling out from some of those original commodities. We are doing a large amount of advertising around the #BookThemOut campaign, which members opposite have supported. Tourism Australia is doing some advertising and promotion. That will be a long journey, to let the world know we are back in business, and I don't believe there will be any short-term impacts that I have been made aware of of Rex pulling out of Kangaroo Island.