❓ Mr. Catania questions the Minister for Transport about high regional airfares to Kalgoorlie, given her previous statement that there were no obstacles to lower fares. The Minister deflects, highlighting the previous government's inaction and outlining ongoing efforts.
AnsweredQoN 832Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
REGIONAL AIRFARES
832. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the minister's
comments on the front page of the Kalgoorlie Miner last week in which
she stated that there were no obstacles to lower airfares for regional Western Australia.
(1) Given that
the minister has been in government for 18 months and there are no obstacles to
cheaper airfares, why, when I checked the Qantas website today, did it tell me
that a return airflight to Kalgoorlie departing tomorrow would cost me $877?
(2) What is the minister doing about
it?
832. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the minister's
comments on the front page of the Kalgoorlie Miner last week in which
she stated that there were no obstacles to lower airfares for regional Western Australia.
(1) Given that
the minister has been in government for 18 months and there are no obstacles to
cheaper airfares, why, when I checked the Qantas website today, did it tell me
that a return airflight to Kalgoorlie departing tomorrow would cost me $877?
(2) What is the minister doing about
it?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member. I am not sure where members opposite were for eight and a half
years in government.
Mr V.A. Catania : You promised
to reduce airfares!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : What did you
do?
The SPEAKER : Minister,
through the Chair.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : In eight and
a half years, what did you do? You did nothing!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister,
through the Chair; and no interjecting.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Members
opposite did nothing for eight and a half years. They were happy to take all
the frills of government, but they did no hard work.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members on my
left!
Ms S. Winton interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Wanneroo, I call you to order for the second time.
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : A parliamentary
committee was established and it presented a report. We are working through the
implementation of those strategies. When we talked with the mayor and the CEO
of the City of Kalgoorlie–Boulder, the big question was really about
the balance between regulation and non-regulation. That is the key issue. It is
a fundamental economic question that many people have different views on. We
are working through that with the department about how we can ensure that we
get better airfares. We have already done new deals for the member for North
West Central's area—that is, for Monkey Mia and Carnarvon.
Mr V.A. Catania interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The member
does not support what Rex Airlines did for that area.
Mr V.A. Catania interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The member
does not support community airfares. He did nothing when he was in government
for eight and a half years —
Mr V.A. Catania interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for North
West Central, do you want to hear the answer or do you not?
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The member
did nothing for eight and a half years and he opposes the new community
airfares, and he comes in here and asks why everything has not been fixed in
the first 18 months. We are working on a number of initiatives in regional Western
Australia. Again, I thank the parliamentary committee for the work it did on
airfares.
thank the member. I am not sure where members opposite were for eight and a half
years in government.
Mr V.A. Catania : You promised
to reduce airfares!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : What did you
do?
The SPEAKER : Minister,
through the Chair.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : In eight and
a half years, what did you do? You did nothing!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister,
through the Chair; and no interjecting.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Members
opposite did nothing for eight and a half years. They were happy to take all
the frills of government, but they did no hard work.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members on my
left!
Ms S. Winton interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Wanneroo, I call you to order for the second time.
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : A parliamentary
committee was established and it presented a report. We are working through the
implementation of those strategies. When we talked with the mayor and the CEO
of the City of Kalgoorlie–Boulder, the big question was really about
the balance between regulation and non-regulation. That is the key issue. It is
a fundamental economic question that many people have different views on. We
are working through that with the department about how we can ensure that we
get better airfares. We have already done new deals for the member for North
West Central's area—that is, for Monkey Mia and Carnarvon.
Mr V.A. Catania interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The member
does not support what Rex Airlines did for that area.
Mr V.A. Catania interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The member
does not support community airfares. He did nothing when he was in government
for eight and a half years —
Mr V.A. Catania interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for North
West Central, do you want to hear the answer or do you not?
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The member
did nothing for eight and a half years and he opposes the new community
airfares, and he comes in here and asks why everything has not been fixed in
the first 18 months. We are working on a number of initiatives in regional Western
Australia. Again, I thank the parliamentary committee for the work it did on
airfares.
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