❓ The WA government welcomes Virgin Blue's new Sydney-Perth route, anticipating a $30 million economic boost. They aim to ensure Virgin Blue receives a fair share of government travel by monitoring flight bookings and prioritising the best fare of the day.
AnsweredQoN 1007Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) What is the expected economic impact of the new flight route between Sydney and Perth announced yesterday by Virgin Blue? (2) What is the State Government doing to ensure that government interstate air travel will not be exclusive to one airline? Mr BROWN
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Albany for the question. He and the tourism industry are concerned, as are many members of this House, about increasing the flights on the east-west route. (1)-(2) This is a very welcome announcement by Virgin Blue. It is expected to generate some $80 000 a day for the Western Australian economy. Indeed, the current loading rate for Virgin Blue flights is about 80 per cent. Based on its new planes carrying 180 people, at least half of whom will be visitors to Western Australia - Mr Board: Ministerial travel on Virgin Blue is a good commitment. Mr BROWN: Absolutely. The member for Murdoch will be pleased to know that we have reviewed some of the lavish expenses of flights. Mr Birney: Are you down in the hold? Mr BROWN: We are not travelling in the hold yet. We have some news for the member for Kalgoorlie later. We thank Virgin Blue for putting on this very welcome, additional service. In broad terms, it will have an additional economic impact of some $30 million for Western Australia. One of the issues that has been raised by Virgin Blue with the State Government is the degree to which the State Government ensures that Virgin Blue receives an equitable share of government travel. Members will be aware that travel service managers, BTI Australia Pty Ltd and American Express International, run the travel service for the State. They operate on the best fare of the day principle; in other words, when government officers want to travel, the travel service managers make the bookings, which are based on the best fare of the day. The difficulty has been that because Virgin Blue did not have direct flights to Sydney, additional costs could be occurred in overnight accommodation or in travelling time. Now that these additional flights are available, it will provide us with a better opportunity to ensure that Virgin Blue is brought into the equation in terms of the best fare of the day principle. Indeed, we have gone one step further: we have sought to ensure that the travel arrangements of all departments and agencies are monitored. We have asked departments and agencies to report to the Department of Industry and Technology those flights that department officers are taking to Melbourne, Adelaide and soon Sydney to see whether those flights could have been taken with Virgin Blue and, more particularly, whether Virgin Blue has a more competitive fare than Qantas Airways Ltd. We will not preferentially treat one airline over the other. We will continue to apply the best fare of the day principle, but in a way that ensures that the work will go to whichever airline offers the best fare of the day; that is, the best fare of the day for Western Australian taxpayers.
(2) What is the State Government doing to ensure that government interstate air travel will not be exclusive to one airline? Mr BROWN replied: I thank the member for Albany for the question. He and the tourism industry are concerned, as are many members of this House, about increasing the flights on the east-west route. (1)-(2) This is a very welcome announcement by Virgin Blue. It is expected to generate some $80 000 a day for the Western Australian economy. Indeed, the current loading rate for Virgin Blue flights is about 80 per cent. Based on its new planes carrying 180 people, at least half of whom will be visitors to Western Australia - Mr Board: Ministerial travel on Virgin Blue is a good commitment. Mr BROWN: Absolutely. The member for Murdoch will be pleased to know that we have reviewed some of the lavish expenses of flights. Mr Birney: Are you down in the hold? Mr BROWN: We are not travelling in the hold yet. We have some news for the member for Kalgoorlie later. We thank Virgin Blue for putting on this very welcome, additional service. In broad terms, it will have an additional economic impact of some $30 million for Western Australia. One of the issues that has been raised by Virgin Blue with the State Government is the degree to which the State Government ensures that Virgin Blue receives an equitable share of government travel. Members will be aware that travel service managers, BTI Australia Pty Ltd and American Express International, run the travel service for the State. They operate on the best fare of the day principle; in other words, when government officers want to travel, the travel service managers make the bookings, which are based on the best fare of the day. The difficulty has been that because Virgin Blue did not have direct flights to Sydney, additional costs could be occurred in overnight accommodation or in travelling time. Now that these additional flights are available, it will provide us with a better opportunity to ensure that Virgin Blue is brought into the equation in terms of the best fare of the day principle. Indeed, we have gone one step further: we have sought to ensure that the travel arrangements of all departments and agencies are monitored. We have asked departments and agencies to report to the Department of Industry and Technology those flights that department officers are taking to Melbourne, Adelaide and soon Sydney to see whether those flights could have been taken with Virgin Blue and, more particularly, whether Virgin Blue has a more competitive fare than Qantas Airways Ltd. We will not preferentially treat one airline over the other. We will continue to apply the best fare of the day principle, but in a way that ensures that the work will go to whichever airline offers the best fare of the day; that is, the best fare of the day for Western Australian taxpayers.
Mr BROWN replied: I thank the member for Albany for the question. He and the tourism industry are concerned, as are many members of this House, about increasing the flights on the east-west route. (1)-(2) This is a very welcome announcement by Virgin Blue. It is expected to generate some $80 000 a day for the Western Australian economy. Indeed, the current loading rate for Virgin Blue flights is about 80 per cent. Based on its new planes carrying 180 people, at least half of whom will be visitors to Western Australia - Mr Board: Ministerial travel on Virgin Blue is a good commitment. Mr BROWN: Absolutely. The member for Murdoch will be pleased to know that we have reviewed some of the lavish expenses of flights. Mr Birney: Are you down in the hold? Mr BROWN: We are not travelling in the hold yet. We have some news for the member for Kalgoorlie later. We thank Virgin Blue for putting on this very welcome, additional service. In broad terms, it will have an additional economic impact of some $30 million for Western Australia. One of the issues that has been raised by Virgin Blue with the State Government is the degree to which the State Government ensures that Virgin Blue receives an equitable share of government travel. Members will be aware that travel service managers, BTI Australia Pty Ltd and American Express International, run the travel service for the State. They operate on the best fare of the day principle; in other words, when government officers want to travel, the travel service managers make the bookings, which are based on the best fare of the day. The difficulty has been that because Virgin Blue did not have direct flights to Sydney, additional costs could be occurred in overnight accommodation or in travelling time. Now that these additional flights are available, it will provide us with a better opportunity to ensure that Virgin Blue is brought into the equation in terms of the best fare of the day principle. Indeed, we have gone one step further: we have sought to ensure that the travel arrangements of all departments and agencies are monitored. We have asked departments and agencies to report to the Department of Industry and Technology those flights that department officers are taking to Melbourne, Adelaide and soon Sydney to see whether those flights could have been taken with Virgin Blue and, more particularly, whether Virgin Blue has a more competitive fare than Qantas Airways Ltd. We will not preferentially treat one airline over the other. We will continue to apply the best fare of the day principle, but in a way that ensures that the work will go to whichever airline offers the best fare of the day; that is, the best fare of the day for Western Australian taxpayers.
I thank the member for Albany for the question. He and the tourism industry are concerned, as are many members of this House, about increasing the flights on the east-west route. (1)-(2) This is a very welcome announcement by Virgin Blue. It is expected to generate some $80 000 a day for the Western Australian economy. Indeed, the current loading rate for Virgin Blue flights is about 80 per cent. Based on its new planes carrying 180 people, at least half of whom will be visitors to Western Australia - Mr Board: Ministerial travel on Virgin Blue is a good commitment. Mr BROWN: Absolutely. The member for Murdoch will be pleased to know that we have reviewed some of the lavish expenses of flights. Mr Birney: Are you down in the hold? Mr BROWN: We are not travelling in the hold yet. We have some news for the member for Kalgoorlie later. We thank Virgin Blue for putting on this very welcome, additional service. In broad terms, it will have an additional economic impact of some $30 million for Western Australia. One of the issues that has been raised by Virgin Blue with the State Government is the degree to which the State Government ensures that Virgin Blue receives an equitable share of government travel. Members will be aware that travel service managers, BTI Australia Pty Ltd and American Express International, run the travel service for the State. They operate on the best fare of the day principle; in other words, when government officers want to travel, the travel service managers make the bookings, which are based on the best fare of the day. The difficulty has been that because Virgin Blue did not have direct flights to Sydney, additional costs could be occurred in overnight accommodation or in travelling time. Now that these additional flights are available, it will provide us with a better opportunity to ensure that Virgin Blue is brought into the equation in terms of the best fare of the day principle. Indeed, we have gone one step further: we have sought to ensure that the travel arrangements of all departments and agencies are monitored. We have asked departments and agencies to report to the Department of Industry and Technology those flights that department officers are taking to Melbourne, Adelaide and soon Sydney to see whether those flights could have been taken with Virgin Blue and, more particularly, whether Virgin Blue has a more competitive fare than Qantas Airways Ltd. We will not preferentially treat one airline over the other. We will continue to apply the best fare of the day principle, but in a way that ensures that the work will go to whichever airline offers the best fare of the day; that is, the best fare of the day for Western Australian taxpayers.
(1)-(2) This is a very welcome announcement by Virgin Blue. It is expected to generate some $80 000 a day for the Western Australian economy. Indeed, the current loading rate for Virgin Blue flights is about 80 per cent. Based on its new planes carrying 180 people, at least half of whom will be visitors to Western Australia - Mr Board: Ministerial travel on Virgin Blue is a good commitment. Mr BROWN: Absolutely. The member for Murdoch will be pleased to know that we have reviewed some of the lavish expenses of flights. Mr Birney: Are you down in the hold? Mr BROWN: We are not travelling in the hold yet. We have some news for the member for Kalgoorlie later. We thank Virgin Blue for putting on this very welcome, additional service. In broad terms, it will have an additional economic impact of some $30 million for Western Australia. One of the issues that has been raised by Virgin Blue with the State Government is the degree to which the State Government ensures that Virgin Blue receives an equitable share of government travel. Members will be aware that travel service managers, BTI Australia Pty Ltd and American Express International, run the travel service for the State. They operate on the best fare of the day principle; in other words, when government officers want to travel, the travel service managers make the bookings, which are based on the best fare of the day. The difficulty has been that because Virgin Blue did not have direct flights to Sydney, additional costs could be occurred in overnight accommodation or in travelling time. Now that these additional flights are available, it will provide us with a better opportunity to ensure that Virgin Blue is brought into the equation in terms of the best fare of the day principle. Indeed, we have gone one step further: we have sought to ensure that the travel arrangements of all departments and agencies are monitored. We have asked departments and agencies to report to the Department of Industry and Technology those flights that department officers are taking to Melbourne, Adelaide and soon Sydney to see whether those flights could have been taken with Virgin Blue and, more particularly, whether Virgin Blue has a more competitive fare than Qantas Airways Ltd. We will not preferentially treat one airline over the other. We will continue to apply the best fare of the day principle, but in a way that ensures that the work will go to whichever airline offers the best fare of the day; that is, the best fare of the day for Western Australian taxpayers.
Mr Board: Ministerial travel on Virgin Blue is a good commitment. Mr BROWN: Absolutely. The member for Murdoch will be pleased to know that we have reviewed some of the lavish expenses of flights. Mr Birney: Are you down in the hold? Mr BROWN: We are not travelling in the hold yet. We have some news for the member for Kalgoorlie later. We thank Virgin Blue for putting on this very welcome, additional service. In broad terms, it will have an additional economic impact of some $30 million for Western Australia. One of the issues that has been raised by Virgin Blue with the State Government is the degree to which the State Government ensures that Virgin Blue receives an equitable share of government travel. Members will be aware that travel service managers, BTI Australia Pty Ltd and American Express International, run the travel service for the State. They operate on the best fare of the day principle; in other words, when government officers want to travel, the travel service managers make the bookings, which are based on the best fare of the day. The difficulty has been that because Virgin Blue did not have direct flights to Sydney, additional costs could be occurred in overnight accommodation or in travelling time. Now that these additional flights are available, it will provide us with a better opportunity to ensure that Virgin Blue is brought into the equation in terms of the best fare of the day principle. Indeed, we have gone one step further: we have sought to ensure that the travel arrangements of all departments and agencies are monitored. We have asked departments and agencies to report to the Department of Industry and Technology those flights that department officers are taking to Melbourne, Adelaide and soon Sydney to see whether those flights could have been taken with Virgin Blue and, more particularly, whether Virgin Blue has a more competitive fare than Qantas Airways Ltd. We will not preferentially treat one airline over the other. We will continue to apply the best fare of the day principle, but in a way that ensures that the work will go to whichever airline offers the best fare of the day; that is, the best fare of the day for Western Australian taxpayers.
Mr BROWN: Absolutely. The member for Murdoch will be pleased to know that we have reviewed some of the lavish expenses of flights. Mr Birney: Are you down in the hold? Mr BROWN: We are not travelling in the hold yet. We have some news for the member for Kalgoorlie later. We thank Virgin Blue for putting on this very welcome, additional service. In broad terms, it will have an additional economic impact of some $30 million for Western Australia. One of the issues that has been raised by Virgin Blue with the State Government is the degree to which the State Government ensures that Virgin Blue receives an equitable share of government travel. Members will be aware that travel service managers, BTI Australia Pty Ltd and American Express International, run the travel service for the State. They operate on the best fare of the day principle; in other words, when government officers want to travel, the travel service managers make the bookings, which are based on the best fare of the day. The difficulty has been that because Virgin Blue did not have direct flights to Sydney, additional costs could be occurred in overnight accommodation or in travelling time. Now that these additional flights are available, it will provide us with a better opportunity to ensure that Virgin Blue is brought into the equation in terms of the best fare of the day principle. Indeed, we have gone one step further: we have sought to ensure that the travel arrangements of all departments and agencies are monitored. We have asked departments and agencies to report to the Department of Industry and Technology those flights that department officers are taking to Melbourne, Adelaide and soon Sydney to see whether those flights could have been taken with Virgin Blue and, more particularly, whether Virgin Blue has a more competitive fare than Qantas Airways Ltd. We will not preferentially treat one airline over the other. We will continue to apply the best fare of the day principle, but in a way that ensures that the work will go to whichever airline offers the best fare of the day; that is, the best fare of the day for Western Australian taxpayers.
Mr Birney: Are you down in the hold? Mr BROWN: We are not travelling in the hold yet. We have some news for the member for Kalgoorlie later. We thank Virgin Blue for putting on this very welcome, additional service. In broad terms, it will have an additional economic impact of some $30 million for Western Australia. One of the issues that has been raised by Virgin Blue with the State Government is the degree to which the State Government ensures that Virgin Blue receives an equitable share of government travel. Members will be aware that travel service managers, BTI Australia Pty Ltd and American Express International, run the travel service for the State. They operate on the best fare of the day principle; in other words, when government officers want to travel, the travel service managers make the bookings, which are based on the best fare of the day. The difficulty has been that because Virgin Blue did not have direct flights to Sydney, additional costs could be occurred in overnight accommodation or in travelling time. Now that these additional flights are available, it will provide us with a better opportunity to ensure that Virgin Blue is brought into the equation in terms of the best fare of the day principle. Indeed, we have gone one step further: we have sought to ensure that the travel arrangements of all departments and agencies are monitored. We have asked departments and agencies to report to the Department of Industry and Technology those flights that department officers are taking to Melbourne, Adelaide and soon Sydney to see whether those flights could have been taken with Virgin Blue and, more particularly, whether Virgin Blue has a more competitive fare than Qantas Airways Ltd. We will not preferentially treat one airline over the other. We will continue to apply the best fare of the day principle, but in a way that ensures that the work will go to whichever airline offers the best fare of the day; that is, the best fare of the day for Western Australian taxpayers.
Mr BROWN: We are not travelling in the hold yet. We have some news for the member for Kalgoorlie later. We thank Virgin Blue for putting on this very welcome, additional service. In broad terms, it will have an additional economic impact of some $30 million for Western Australia. One of the issues that has been raised by Virgin Blue with the State Government is the degree to which the State Government ensures that Virgin Blue receives an equitable share of government travel. Members will be aware that travel service managers, BTI Australia Pty Ltd and American Express International, run the travel service for the State. They operate on the best fare of the day principle; in other words, when government officers want to travel, the travel service managers make the bookings, which are based on the best fare of the day. The difficulty has been that because Virgin Blue did not have direct flights to Sydney, additional costs could be occurred in overnight accommodation or in travelling time. Now that these additional flights are available, it will provide us with a better opportunity to ensure that Virgin Blue is brought into the equation in terms of the best fare of the day principle. Indeed, we have gone one step further: we have sought to ensure that the travel arrangements of all departments and agencies are monitored. We have asked departments and agencies to report to the Department of Industry and Technology those flights that department officers are taking to Melbourne, Adelaide and soon Sydney to see whether those flights could have been taken with Virgin Blue and, more particularly, whether Virgin Blue has a more competitive fare than Qantas Airways Ltd. We will not preferentially treat one airline over the other. We will continue to apply the best fare of the day principle, but in a way that ensures that the work will go to whichever airline offers the best fare of the day; that is, the best fare of the day for Western Australian taxpayers.
We thank Virgin Blue for putting on this very welcome, additional service. In broad terms, it will have an additional economic impact of some $30 million for Western Australia. One of the issues that has been raised by Virgin Blue with the State Government is the degree to which the State Government ensures that Virgin Blue receives an equitable share of government travel. Members will be aware that travel service managers, BTI Australia Pty Ltd and American Express International, run the travel service for the State. They operate on the best fare of the day principle; in other words, when government officers want to travel, the travel service managers make the bookings, which are based on the best fare of the day. The difficulty has been that because Virgin Blue did not have direct flights to Sydney, additional costs could be occurred in overnight accommodation or in travelling time. Now that these additional flights are available, it will provide us with a better opportunity to ensure that Virgin Blue is brought into the equation in terms of the best fare of the day principle. Indeed, we have gone one step further: we have sought to ensure that the travel arrangements of all departments and agencies are monitored. We have asked departments and agencies to report to the Department of Industry and Technology those flights that department officers are taking to Melbourne, Adelaide and soon Sydney to see whether those flights could have been taken with Virgin Blue and, more particularly, whether Virgin Blue has a more competitive fare than Qantas Airways Ltd. We will not preferentially treat one airline over the other. We will continue to apply the best fare of the day principle, but in a way that ensures that the work will go to whichever airline offers the best fare of the day; that is, the best fare of the day for Western Australian taxpayers.
We have asked departments and agencies to report to the Department of Industry and Technology those flights that department officers are taking to Melbourne, Adelaide and soon Sydney to see whether those flights could have been taken with Virgin Blue and, more particularly, whether Virgin Blue has a more competitive fare than Qantas Airways Ltd. We will not preferentially treat one airline over the other. We will continue to apply the best fare of the day principle, but in a way that ensures that the work will go to whichever airline offers the best fare of the day; that is, the best fare of the day for Western Australian taxpayers.
(2) What is the State Government doing to ensure that government interstate air travel will not be exclusive to one airline? Mr BROWN replied: I thank the member for Albany for the question. He and the tourism industry are concerned, as are many members of this House, about increasing the flights on the east-west route. (1)-(2) This is a very welcome announcement by Virgin Blue. It is expected to generate some $80 000 a day for the Western Australian economy. Indeed, the current loading rate for Virgin Blue flights is about 80 per cent. Based on its new planes carrying 180 people, at least half of whom will be visitors to Western Australia - Mr Board: Ministerial travel on Virgin Blue is a good commitment. Mr BROWN: Absolutely. The member for Murdoch will be pleased to know that we have reviewed some of the lavish expenses of flights. Mr Birney: Are you down in the hold? Mr BROWN: We are not travelling in the hold yet. We have some news for the member for Kalgoorlie later. We thank Virgin Blue for putting on this very welcome, additional service. In broad terms, it will have an additional economic impact of some $30 million for Western Australia. One of the issues that has been raised by Virgin Blue with the State Government is the degree to which the State Government ensures that Virgin Blue receives an equitable share of government travel. Members will be aware that travel service managers, BTI Australia Pty Ltd and American Express International, run the travel service for the State. They operate on the best fare of the day principle; in other words, when government officers want to travel, the travel service managers make the bookings, which are based on the best fare of the day. The difficulty has been that because Virgin Blue did not have direct flights to Sydney, additional costs could be occurred in overnight accommodation or in travelling time. Now that these additional flights are available, it will provide us with a better opportunity to ensure that Virgin Blue is brought into the equation in terms of the best fare of the day principle. Indeed, we have gone one step further: we have sought to ensure that the travel arrangements of all departments and agencies are monitored. We have asked departments and agencies to report to the Department of Industry and Technology those flights that department officers are taking to Melbourne, Adelaide and soon Sydney to see whether those flights could have been taken with Virgin Blue and, more particularly, whether Virgin Blue has a more competitive fare than Qantas Airways Ltd. We will not preferentially treat one airline over the other. We will continue to apply the best fare of the day principle, but in a way that ensures that the work will go to whichever airline offers the best fare of the day; that is, the best fare of the day for Western Australian taxpayers.
Mr BROWN replied: I thank the member for Albany for the question. He and the tourism industry are concerned, as are many members of this House, about increasing the flights on the east-west route. (1)-(2) This is a very welcome announcement by Virgin Blue. It is expected to generate some $80 000 a day for the Western Australian economy. Indeed, the current loading rate for Virgin Blue flights is about 80 per cent. Based on its new planes carrying 180 people, at least half of whom will be visitors to Western Australia - Mr Board: Ministerial travel on Virgin Blue is a good commitment. Mr BROWN: Absolutely. The member for Murdoch will be pleased to know that we have reviewed some of the lavish expenses of flights. Mr Birney: Are you down in the hold? Mr BROWN: We are not travelling in the hold yet. We have some news for the member for Kalgoorlie later. We thank Virgin Blue for putting on this very welcome, additional service. In broad terms, it will have an additional economic impact of some $30 million for Western Australia. One of the issues that has been raised by Virgin Blue with the State Government is the degree to which the State Government ensures that Virgin Blue receives an equitable share of government travel. Members will be aware that travel service managers, BTI Australia Pty Ltd and American Express International, run the travel service for the State. They operate on the best fare of the day principle; in other words, when government officers want to travel, the travel service managers make the bookings, which are based on the best fare of the day. The difficulty has been that because Virgin Blue did not have direct flights to Sydney, additional costs could be occurred in overnight accommodation or in travelling time. Now that these additional flights are available, it will provide us with a better opportunity to ensure that Virgin Blue is brought into the equation in terms of the best fare of the day principle. Indeed, we have gone one step further: we have sought to ensure that the travel arrangements of all departments and agencies are monitored. We have asked departments and agencies to report to the Department of Industry and Technology those flights that department officers are taking to Melbourne, Adelaide and soon Sydney to see whether those flights could have been taken with Virgin Blue and, more particularly, whether Virgin Blue has a more competitive fare than Qantas Airways Ltd. We will not preferentially treat one airline over the other. We will continue to apply the best fare of the day principle, but in a way that ensures that the work will go to whichever airline offers the best fare of the day; that is, the best fare of the day for Western Australian taxpayers.
I thank the member for Albany for the question. He and the tourism industry are concerned, as are many members of this House, about increasing the flights on the east-west route. (1)-(2) This is a very welcome announcement by Virgin Blue. It is expected to generate some $80 000 a day for the Western Australian economy. Indeed, the current loading rate for Virgin Blue flights is about 80 per cent. Based on its new planes carrying 180 people, at least half of whom will be visitors to Western Australia - Mr Board: Ministerial travel on Virgin Blue is a good commitment. Mr BROWN: Absolutely. The member for Murdoch will be pleased to know that we have reviewed some of the lavish expenses of flights. Mr Birney: Are you down in the hold? Mr BROWN: We are not travelling in the hold yet. We have some news for the member for Kalgoorlie later. We thank Virgin Blue for putting on this very welcome, additional service. In broad terms, it will have an additional economic impact of some $30 million for Western Australia. One of the issues that has been raised by Virgin Blue with the State Government is the degree to which the State Government ensures that Virgin Blue receives an equitable share of government travel. Members will be aware that travel service managers, BTI Australia Pty Ltd and American Express International, run the travel service for the State. They operate on the best fare of the day principle; in other words, when government officers want to travel, the travel service managers make the bookings, which are based on the best fare of the day. The difficulty has been that because Virgin Blue did not have direct flights to Sydney, additional costs could be occurred in overnight accommodation or in travelling time. Now that these additional flights are available, it will provide us with a better opportunity to ensure that Virgin Blue is brought into the equation in terms of the best fare of the day principle. Indeed, we have gone one step further: we have sought to ensure that the travel arrangements of all departments and agencies are monitored. We have asked departments and agencies to report to the Department of Industry and Technology those flights that department officers are taking to Melbourne, Adelaide and soon Sydney to see whether those flights could have been taken with Virgin Blue and, more particularly, whether Virgin Blue has a more competitive fare than Qantas Airways Ltd. We will not preferentially treat one airline over the other. We will continue to apply the best fare of the day principle, but in a way that ensures that the work will go to whichever airline offers the best fare of the day; that is, the best fare of the day for Western Australian taxpayers.
(1)-(2) This is a very welcome announcement by Virgin Blue. It is expected to generate some $80 000 a day for the Western Australian economy. Indeed, the current loading rate for Virgin Blue flights is about 80 per cent. Based on its new planes carrying 180 people, at least half of whom will be visitors to Western Australia - Mr Board: Ministerial travel on Virgin Blue is a good commitment. Mr BROWN: Absolutely. The member for Murdoch will be pleased to know that we have reviewed some of the lavish expenses of flights. Mr Birney: Are you down in the hold? Mr BROWN: We are not travelling in the hold yet. We have some news for the member for Kalgoorlie later. We thank Virgin Blue for putting on this very welcome, additional service. In broad terms, it will have an additional economic impact of some $30 million for Western Australia. One of the issues that has been raised by Virgin Blue with the State Government is the degree to which the State Government ensures that Virgin Blue receives an equitable share of government travel. Members will be aware that travel service managers, BTI Australia Pty Ltd and American Express International, run the travel service for the State. They operate on the best fare of the day principle; in other words, when government officers want to travel, the travel service managers make the bookings, which are based on the best fare of the day. The difficulty has been that because Virgin Blue did not have direct flights to Sydney, additional costs could be occurred in overnight accommodation or in travelling time. Now that these additional flights are available, it will provide us with a better opportunity to ensure that Virgin Blue is brought into the equation in terms of the best fare of the day principle. Indeed, we have gone one step further: we have sought to ensure that the travel arrangements of all departments and agencies are monitored. We have asked departments and agencies to report to the Department of Industry and Technology those flights that department officers are taking to Melbourne, Adelaide and soon Sydney to see whether those flights could have been taken with Virgin Blue and, more particularly, whether Virgin Blue has a more competitive fare than Qantas Airways Ltd. We will not preferentially treat one airline over the other. We will continue to apply the best fare of the day principle, but in a way that ensures that the work will go to whichever airline offers the best fare of the day; that is, the best fare of the day for Western Australian taxpayers.
Mr Board: Ministerial travel on Virgin Blue is a good commitment. Mr BROWN: Absolutely. The member for Murdoch will be pleased to know that we have reviewed some of the lavish expenses of flights. Mr Birney: Are you down in the hold? Mr BROWN: We are not travelling in the hold yet. We have some news for the member for Kalgoorlie later. We thank Virgin Blue for putting on this very welcome, additional service. In broad terms, it will have an additional economic impact of some $30 million for Western Australia. One of the issues that has been raised by Virgin Blue with the State Government is the degree to which the State Government ensures that Virgin Blue receives an equitable share of government travel. Members will be aware that travel service managers, BTI Australia Pty Ltd and American Express International, run the travel service for the State. They operate on the best fare of the day principle; in other words, when government officers want to travel, the travel service managers make the bookings, which are based on the best fare of the day. The difficulty has been that because Virgin Blue did not have direct flights to Sydney, additional costs could be occurred in overnight accommodation or in travelling time. Now that these additional flights are available, it will provide us with a better opportunity to ensure that Virgin Blue is brought into the equation in terms of the best fare of the day principle. Indeed, we have gone one step further: we have sought to ensure that the travel arrangements of all departments and agencies are monitored. We have asked departments and agencies to report to the Department of Industry and Technology those flights that department officers are taking to Melbourne, Adelaide and soon Sydney to see whether those flights could have been taken with Virgin Blue and, more particularly, whether Virgin Blue has a more competitive fare than Qantas Airways Ltd. We will not preferentially treat one airline over the other. We will continue to apply the best fare of the day principle, but in a way that ensures that the work will go to whichever airline offers the best fare of the day; that is, the best fare of the day for Western Australian taxpayers.
Mr BROWN: Absolutely. The member for Murdoch will be pleased to know that we have reviewed some of the lavish expenses of flights. Mr Birney: Are you down in the hold? Mr BROWN: We are not travelling in the hold yet. We have some news for the member for Kalgoorlie later. We thank Virgin Blue for putting on this very welcome, additional service. In broad terms, it will have an additional economic impact of some $30 million for Western Australia. One of the issues that has been raised by Virgin Blue with the State Government is the degree to which the State Government ensures that Virgin Blue receives an equitable share of government travel. Members will be aware that travel service managers, BTI Australia Pty Ltd and American Express International, run the travel service for the State. They operate on the best fare of the day principle; in other words, when government officers want to travel, the travel service managers make the bookings, which are based on the best fare of the day. The difficulty has been that because Virgin Blue did not have direct flights to Sydney, additional costs could be occurred in overnight accommodation or in travelling time. Now that these additional flights are available, it will provide us with a better opportunity to ensure that Virgin Blue is brought into the equation in terms of the best fare of the day principle. Indeed, we have gone one step further: we have sought to ensure that the travel arrangements of all departments and agencies are monitored. We have asked departments and agencies to report to the Department of Industry and Technology those flights that department officers are taking to Melbourne, Adelaide and soon Sydney to see whether those flights could have been taken with Virgin Blue and, more particularly, whether Virgin Blue has a more competitive fare than Qantas Airways Ltd. We will not preferentially treat one airline over the other. We will continue to apply the best fare of the day principle, but in a way that ensures that the work will go to whichever airline offers the best fare of the day; that is, the best fare of the day for Western Australian taxpayers.
Mr Birney: Are you down in the hold? Mr BROWN: We are not travelling in the hold yet. We have some news for the member for Kalgoorlie later. We thank Virgin Blue for putting on this very welcome, additional service. In broad terms, it will have an additional economic impact of some $30 million for Western Australia. One of the issues that has been raised by Virgin Blue with the State Government is the degree to which the State Government ensures that Virgin Blue receives an equitable share of government travel. Members will be aware that travel service managers, BTI Australia Pty Ltd and American Express International, run the travel service for the State. They operate on the best fare of the day principle; in other words, when government officers want to travel, the travel service managers make the bookings, which are based on the best fare of the day. The difficulty has been that because Virgin Blue did not have direct flights to Sydney, additional costs could be occurred in overnight accommodation or in travelling time. Now that these additional flights are available, it will provide us with a better opportunity to ensure that Virgin Blue is brought into the equation in terms of the best fare of the day principle. Indeed, we have gone one step further: we have sought to ensure that the travel arrangements of all departments and agencies are monitored. We have asked departments and agencies to report to the Department of Industry and Technology those flights that department officers are taking to Melbourne, Adelaide and soon Sydney to see whether those flights could have been taken with Virgin Blue and, more particularly, whether Virgin Blue has a more competitive fare than Qantas Airways Ltd. We will not preferentially treat one airline over the other. We will continue to apply the best fare of the day principle, but in a way that ensures that the work will go to whichever airline offers the best fare of the day; that is, the best fare of the day for Western Australian taxpayers.
Mr BROWN: We are not travelling in the hold yet. We have some news for the member for Kalgoorlie later. We thank Virgin Blue for putting on this very welcome, additional service. In broad terms, it will have an additional economic impact of some $30 million for Western Australia. One of the issues that has been raised by Virgin Blue with the State Government is the degree to which the State Government ensures that Virgin Blue receives an equitable share of government travel. Members will be aware that travel service managers, BTI Australia Pty Ltd and American Express International, run the travel service for the State. They operate on the best fare of the day principle; in other words, when government officers want to travel, the travel service managers make the bookings, which are based on the best fare of the day. The difficulty has been that because Virgin Blue did not have direct flights to Sydney, additional costs could be occurred in overnight accommodation or in travelling time. Now that these additional flights are available, it will provide us with a better opportunity to ensure that Virgin Blue is brought into the equation in terms of the best fare of the day principle. Indeed, we have gone one step further: we have sought to ensure that the travel arrangements of all departments and agencies are monitored. We have asked departments and agencies to report to the Department of Industry and Technology those flights that department officers are taking to Melbourne, Adelaide and soon Sydney to see whether those flights could have been taken with Virgin Blue and, more particularly, whether Virgin Blue has a more competitive fare than Qantas Airways Ltd. We will not preferentially treat one airline over the other. We will continue to apply the best fare of the day principle, but in a way that ensures that the work will go to whichever airline offers the best fare of the day; that is, the best fare of the day for Western Australian taxpayers.
We thank Virgin Blue for putting on this very welcome, additional service. In broad terms, it will have an additional economic impact of some $30 million for Western Australia. One of the issues that has been raised by Virgin Blue with the State Government is the degree to which the State Government ensures that Virgin Blue receives an equitable share of government travel. Members will be aware that travel service managers, BTI Australia Pty Ltd and American Express International, run the travel service for the State. They operate on the best fare of the day principle; in other words, when government officers want to travel, the travel service managers make the bookings, which are based on the best fare of the day. The difficulty has been that because Virgin Blue did not have direct flights to Sydney, additional costs could be occurred in overnight accommodation or in travelling time. Now that these additional flights are available, it will provide us with a better opportunity to ensure that Virgin Blue is brought into the equation in terms of the best fare of the day principle. Indeed, we have gone one step further: we have sought to ensure that the travel arrangements of all departments and agencies are monitored. We have asked departments and agencies to report to the Department of Industry and Technology those flights that department officers are taking to Melbourne, Adelaide and soon Sydney to see whether those flights could have been taken with Virgin Blue and, more particularly, whether Virgin Blue has a more competitive fare than Qantas Airways Ltd. We will not preferentially treat one airline over the other. We will continue to apply the best fare of the day principle, but in a way that ensures that the work will go to whichever airline offers the best fare of the day; that is, the best fare of the day for Western Australian taxpayers.
We have asked departments and agencies to report to the Department of Industry and Technology those flights that department officers are taking to Melbourne, Adelaide and soon Sydney to see whether those flights could have been taken with Virgin Blue and, more particularly, whether Virgin Blue has a more competitive fare than Qantas Airways Ltd. We will not preferentially treat one airline over the other. We will continue to apply the best fare of the day principle, but in a way that ensures that the work will go to whichever airline offers the best fare of the day; that is, the best fare of the day for Western Australian taxpayers.
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