Western Queenslanders with something to say about regional air services will have their chance over the next few days.
The Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport is focusing on the social and economic impacts of fare costs and service delivery for non-metropolitan communities, and has already heard from affected people at Broome, Alice Spring and Darwin.
Co-chair, Queensland LNP Senator Barry O’Sullivan, said whether it was about attracting the best workers or attracting tourists, the cost and reliability of airfares was an issue that was impacting rural industry and small business.
“It is also greatly impacting on families,” he said.
“Repeated stories have been told about families unable to afford flights for medical tests or struggling to bring their school children home for holidays.
“This issue is fundamentally about the future liveability of our provincial communities.”
Mr O’Sullivan said the personal stories he had heard this week would be at the forefront of his mind as the inquiry progressed.
The RRAT committee has official hearings scheduled in Longreach and Cloncurry in coming days, but Mr O’Sullivan will also be personally visiting a number of other centres in the west to hear public statements.
Public hearings schedule:
- Saturday, April 7 – Blackall public statements, 10am, Blackall Cultural Centre
- Monday, April 9 – Charleville public statements, 11am, Charleville Town Hall
- Monday, April 9 – Barcaldine public statements, 6pm, Barcaldine Town Hall
- Tuesday, April 10 – Longreach official public hearing, 10am, Longreach Civic Centre
- Wednesday, April 11 – Winton public statements, 10.15am, Winton Shire Hall
- Thursday, April 12 – Cloncurry official public hearing, 9am, Cloncurry Community Precinct