❓ Following the collapse of Ansett, the WA government is working with Qantas to maintain regional air services and encourages the public to support the tourism industry. They are also facilitating discussions for a potential private purchase of Skywest.
AnsweredQoN 375Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
REGIONAL AIR SERVICES, ANSETT AUSTRALIA
Is the Premier aware of plans to provide regional air services in Western Australia following the collapse of Ansett Australia? Dr GALLOP
Is the Premier aware of plans to provide regional air services in Western Australia following the collapse of Ansett Australia? Dr GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
The Government is doing all it can to maintain regional air services in Western Australia following the collapse of Ansett Australia. The Government has been in constant dialogue with Qantas Airways Ltd, and supports its efforts to support those communities affected by the demise of Ansett. Qantas advises that it has picked up all regional flights that Ansett Australia-Skywest Airlines Pty Ltd covered, except the hop from Broome to Derby. In the longer term, we need to develop a more comprehensive service for regional Western Australia, and we support Qantas in its endeavours to do that. Qantas has done a remarkable job thus far, and we commend its efforts. I was concerned to hear yesterday that one of the flights that had been organised by Qantas was cancelled due to a lack of customers. This may be due to confusion in the community, and to a degree of uncertainty. However, it is vital that the public understand that these services are in place. We want the public of Western Australia to support them. Bookings can be made by ringing Qantas on 131313, accessing its web site or through any licensed travel agent. I urge Western Australians to take to the skies. There has been a lot of discussion in our community about the doom and gloom in our tourism industry. The last thing the Government wants is for Western Australians to cancel their travel plans because of talk in the community that no facilities will be available for them. I caution people, and as I said to the member for Merredin - Mr Cowan: You take one incident and then try to generalise. You are wrong. Dr GALLOP: I am not wrong. Some of the flights have not been taken up because of confusion and uncertainty in the community. We should be talking up our tourism industry and not talking it down. We all have that important responsibility. There is too much talk of collapse and regional tourism operators going bust. That is leading a lot of people to reconsider whether they will go on holiday. We want Western Australians to go on holidays. The Government has put an additional $4 million in the budget for marketing and promoting regional tourism - as it said it would. We are not in the business of propping up individual companies. We are in the business of making sure strategic air services are available in regional Western Australia. However, we do not support propping up particular companies in this matter. Mr Cowan interjected. Dr GALLOP: I am hearing all this activity from the member for Merredin; we have not heard anything from him for years. Perhaps he is a candidate in an upcoming election? Perhaps that is the reason! Mr Barnett: No-one is laughing; there is a crisis in Western Australia. Dr GALLOP: I can tell my friend, the Leader of the Opposition, that we should talk up our tourism industry and get people on the planes. I am advised that a group of regional investors is interested in purchasing Skywest without government funding. I stress “without government funding”. The Government is assisting them by endeavouring to facilitate a meeting between that group and Ansett’s new administrators. Air services are available on the previous Skywest routes. I would hate to think that Western Australians who were planning holidays in our State cancelled those plans because people were talking down our industry.
Dr GALLOP replied: The Government is doing all it can to maintain regional air services in Western Australia following the collapse of Ansett Australia. The Government has been in constant dialogue with Qantas Airways Ltd, and supports its efforts to support those communities affected by the demise of Ansett. Qantas advises that it has picked up all regional flights that Ansett Australia-Skywest Airlines Pty Ltd covered, except the hop from Broome to Derby. In the longer term, we need to develop a more comprehensive service for regional Western Australia, and we support Qantas in its endeavours to do that. Qantas has done a remarkable job thus far, and we commend its efforts. I was concerned to hear yesterday that one of the flights that had been organised by Qantas was cancelled due to a lack of customers. This may be due to confusion in the community, and to a degree of uncertainty. However, it is vital that the public understand that these services are in place. We want the public of Western Australia to support them. Bookings can be made by ringing Qantas on 131313, accessing its web site or through any licensed travel agent. I urge Western Australians to take to the skies. There has been a lot of discussion in our community about the doom and gloom in our tourism industry. The last thing the Government wants is for Western Australians to cancel their travel plans because of talk in the community that no facilities will be available for them. I caution people, and as I said to the member for Merredin - Mr Cowan: You take one incident and then try to generalise. You are wrong. Dr GALLOP: I am not wrong. Some of the flights have not been taken up because of confusion and uncertainty in the community. We should be talking up our tourism industry and not talking it down. We all have that important responsibility. There is too much talk of collapse and regional tourism operators going bust. That is leading a lot of people to reconsider whether they will go on holiday. We want Western Australians to go on holidays. The Government has put an additional $4 million in the budget for marketing and promoting regional tourism - as it said it would. We are not in the business of propping up individual companies. We are in the business of making sure strategic air services are available in regional Western Australia. However, we do not support propping up particular companies in this matter. Mr Cowan interjected. Dr GALLOP: I am hearing all this activity from the member for Merredin; we have not heard anything from him for years. Perhaps he is a candidate in an upcoming election? Perhaps that is the reason! Mr Barnett: No-one is laughing; there is a crisis in Western Australia. Dr GALLOP: I can tell my friend, the Leader of the Opposition, that we should talk up our tourism industry and get people on the planes. I am advised that a group of regional investors is interested in purchasing Skywest without government funding. I stress “without government funding”. The Government is assisting them by endeavouring to facilitate a meeting between that group and Ansett’s new administrators. Air services are available on the previous Skywest routes. I would hate to think that Western Australians who were planning holidays in our State cancelled those plans because people were talking down our industry.
The Government is doing all it can to maintain regional air services in Western Australia following the collapse of Ansett Australia. The Government has been in constant dialogue with Qantas Airways Ltd, and supports its efforts to support those communities affected by the demise of Ansett. Qantas advises that it has picked up all regional flights that Ansett Australia-Skywest Airlines Pty Ltd covered, except the hop from Broome to Derby. In the longer term, we need to develop a more comprehensive service for regional Western Australia, and we support Qantas in its endeavours to do that. Qantas has done a remarkable job thus far, and we commend its efforts. I was concerned to hear yesterday that one of the flights that had been organised by Qantas was cancelled due to a lack of customers. This may be due to confusion in the community, and to a degree of uncertainty. However, it is vital that the public understand that these services are in place. We want the public of Western Australia to support them. Bookings can be made by ringing Qantas on 131313, accessing its web site or through any licensed travel agent. I urge Western Australians to take to the skies. There has been a lot of discussion in our community about the doom and gloom in our tourism industry. The last thing the Government wants is for Western Australians to cancel their travel plans because of talk in the community that no facilities will be available for them. I caution people, and as I said to the member for Merredin - Mr Cowan: You take one incident and then try to generalise. You are wrong. Dr GALLOP: I am not wrong. Some of the flights have not been taken up because of confusion and uncertainty in the community. We should be talking up our tourism industry and not talking it down. We all have that important responsibility. There is too much talk of collapse and regional tourism operators going bust. That is leading a lot of people to reconsider whether they will go on holiday. We want Western Australians to go on holidays. The Government has put an additional $4 million in the budget for marketing and promoting regional tourism - as it said it would. We are not in the business of propping up individual companies. We are in the business of making sure strategic air services are available in regional Western Australia. However, we do not support propping up particular companies in this matter. Mr Cowan interjected. Dr GALLOP: I am hearing all this activity from the member for Merredin; we have not heard anything from him for years. Perhaps he is a candidate in an upcoming election? Perhaps that is the reason! Mr Barnett: No-one is laughing; there is a crisis in Western Australia. Dr GALLOP: I can tell my friend, the Leader of the Opposition, that we should talk up our tourism industry and get people on the planes. I am advised that a group of regional investors is interested in purchasing Skywest without government funding. I stress “without government funding”. The Government is assisting them by endeavouring to facilitate a meeting between that group and Ansett’s new administrators. Air services are available on the previous Skywest routes. I would hate to think that Western Australians who were planning holidays in our State cancelled those plans because people were talking down our industry.
I was concerned to hear yesterday that one of the flights that had been organised by Qantas was cancelled due to a lack of customers. This may be due to confusion in the community, and to a degree of uncertainty. However, it is vital that the public understand that these services are in place. We want the public of Western Australia to support them. Bookings can be made by ringing Qantas on 131313, accessing its web site or through any licensed travel agent. I urge Western Australians to take to the skies. There has been a lot of discussion in our community about the doom and gloom in our tourism industry. The last thing the Government wants is for Western Australians to cancel their travel plans because of talk in the community that no facilities will be available for them. I caution people, and as I said to the member for Merredin - Mr Cowan: You take one incident and then try to generalise. You are wrong. Dr GALLOP: I am not wrong. Some of the flights have not been taken up because of confusion and uncertainty in the community. We should be talking up our tourism industry and not talking it down. We all have that important responsibility. There is too much talk of collapse and regional tourism operators going bust. That is leading a lot of people to reconsider whether they will go on holiday. We want Western Australians to go on holidays. The Government has put an additional $4 million in the budget for marketing and promoting regional tourism - as it said it would. We are not in the business of propping up individual companies. We are in the business of making sure strategic air services are available in regional Western Australia. However, we do not support propping up particular companies in this matter. Mr Cowan interjected. Dr GALLOP: I am hearing all this activity from the member for Merredin; we have not heard anything from him for years. Perhaps he is a candidate in an upcoming election? Perhaps that is the reason! Mr Barnett: No-one is laughing; there is a crisis in Western Australia. Dr GALLOP: I can tell my friend, the Leader of the Opposition, that we should talk up our tourism industry and get people on the planes. I am advised that a group of regional investors is interested in purchasing Skywest without government funding. I stress “without government funding”. The Government is assisting them by endeavouring to facilitate a meeting between that group and Ansett’s new administrators. Air services are available on the previous Skywest routes. I would hate to think that Western Australians who were planning holidays in our State cancelled those plans because people were talking down our industry.
There has been a lot of discussion in our community about the doom and gloom in our tourism industry. The last thing the Government wants is for Western Australians to cancel their travel plans because of talk in the community that no facilities will be available for them. I caution people, and as I said to the member for Merredin - Mr Cowan: You take one incident and then try to generalise. You are wrong. Dr GALLOP: I am not wrong. Some of the flights have not been taken up because of confusion and uncertainty in the community. We should be talking up our tourism industry and not talking it down. We all have that important responsibility. There is too much talk of collapse and regional tourism operators going bust. That is leading a lot of people to reconsider whether they will go on holiday. We want Western Australians to go on holidays. The Government has put an additional $4 million in the budget for marketing and promoting regional tourism - as it said it would. We are not in the business of propping up individual companies. We are in the business of making sure strategic air services are available in regional Western Australia. However, we do not support propping up particular companies in this matter. Mr Cowan interjected. Dr GALLOP: I am hearing all this activity from the member for Merredin; we have not heard anything from him for years. Perhaps he is a candidate in an upcoming election? Perhaps that is the reason! Mr Barnett: No-one is laughing; there is a crisis in Western Australia. Dr GALLOP: I can tell my friend, the Leader of the Opposition, that we should talk up our tourism industry and get people on the planes. I am advised that a group of regional investors is interested in purchasing Skywest without government funding. I stress “without government funding”. The Government is assisting them by endeavouring to facilitate a meeting between that group and Ansett’s new administrators. Air services are available on the previous Skywest routes. I would hate to think that Western Australians who were planning holidays in our State cancelled those plans because people were talking down our industry.
Mr Cowan: You take one incident and then try to generalise. You are wrong. Dr GALLOP: I am not wrong. Some of the flights have not been taken up because of confusion and uncertainty in the community. We should be talking up our tourism industry and not talking it down. We all have that important responsibility. There is too much talk of collapse and regional tourism operators going bust. That is leading a lot of people to reconsider whether they will go on holiday. We want Western Australians to go on holidays. The Government has put an additional $4 million in the budget for marketing and promoting regional tourism - as it said it would. We are not in the business of propping up individual companies. We are in the business of making sure strategic air services are available in regional Western Australia. However, we do not support propping up particular companies in this matter. Mr Cowan interjected. Dr GALLOP: I am hearing all this activity from the member for Merredin; we have not heard anything from him for years. Perhaps he is a candidate in an upcoming election? Perhaps that is the reason! Mr Barnett: No-one is laughing; there is a crisis in Western Australia. Dr GALLOP: I can tell my friend, the Leader of the Opposition, that we should talk up our tourism industry and get people on the planes. I am advised that a group of regional investors is interested in purchasing Skywest without government funding. I stress “without government funding”. The Government is assisting them by endeavouring to facilitate a meeting between that group and Ansett’s new administrators. Air services are available on the previous Skywest routes. I would hate to think that Western Australians who were planning holidays in our State cancelled those plans because people were talking down our industry.
Dr GALLOP: I am not wrong. Some of the flights have not been taken up because of confusion and uncertainty in the community. We should be talking up our tourism industry and not talking it down. We all have that important responsibility. There is too much talk of collapse and regional tourism operators going bust. That is leading a lot of people to reconsider whether they will go on holiday. We want Western Australians to go on holidays. The Government has put an additional $4 million in the budget for marketing and promoting regional tourism - as it said it would. We are not in the business of propping up individual companies. We are in the business of making sure strategic air services are available in regional Western Australia. However, we do not support propping up particular companies in this matter. Mr Cowan interjected. Dr GALLOP: I am hearing all this activity from the member for Merredin; we have not heard anything from him for years. Perhaps he is a candidate in an upcoming election? Perhaps that is the reason! Mr Barnett: No-one is laughing; there is a crisis in Western Australia. Dr GALLOP: I can tell my friend, the Leader of the Opposition, that we should talk up our tourism industry and get people on the planes. I am advised that a group of regional investors is interested in purchasing Skywest without government funding. I stress “without government funding”. The Government is assisting them by endeavouring to facilitate a meeting between that group and Ansett’s new administrators. Air services are available on the previous Skywest routes. I would hate to think that Western Australians who were planning holidays in our State cancelled those plans because people were talking down our industry.
The Government has put an additional $4 million in the budget for marketing and promoting regional tourism - as it said it would. We are not in the business of propping up individual companies. We are in the business of making sure strategic air services are available in regional Western Australia. However, we do not support propping up particular companies in this matter. Mr Cowan interjected. Dr GALLOP: I am hearing all this activity from the member for Merredin; we have not heard anything from him for years. Perhaps he is a candidate in an upcoming election? Perhaps that is the reason! Mr Barnett: No-one is laughing; there is a crisis in Western Australia. Dr GALLOP: I can tell my friend, the Leader of the Opposition, that we should talk up our tourism industry and get people on the planes. I am advised that a group of regional investors is interested in purchasing Skywest without government funding. I stress “without government funding”. The Government is assisting them by endeavouring to facilitate a meeting between that group and Ansett’s new administrators. Air services are available on the previous Skywest routes. I would hate to think that Western Australians who were planning holidays in our State cancelled those plans because people were talking down our industry.
Mr Cowan interjected. Dr GALLOP: I am hearing all this activity from the member for Merredin; we have not heard anything from him for years. Perhaps he is a candidate in an upcoming election? Perhaps that is the reason! Mr Barnett: No-one is laughing; there is a crisis in Western Australia. Dr GALLOP: I can tell my friend, the Leader of the Opposition, that we should talk up our tourism industry and get people on the planes. I am advised that a group of regional investors is interested in purchasing Skywest without government funding. I stress “without government funding”. The Government is assisting them by endeavouring to facilitate a meeting between that group and Ansett’s new administrators. Air services are available on the previous Skywest routes. I would hate to think that Western Australians who were planning holidays in our State cancelled those plans because people were talking down our industry.
Dr GALLOP: I am hearing all this activity from the member for Merredin; we have not heard anything from him for years. Perhaps he is a candidate in an upcoming election? Perhaps that is the reason! Mr Barnett: No-one is laughing; there is a crisis in Western Australia. Dr GALLOP: I can tell my friend, the Leader of the Opposition, that we should talk up our tourism industry and get people on the planes. I am advised that a group of regional investors is interested in purchasing Skywest without government funding. I stress “without government funding”. The Government is assisting them by endeavouring to facilitate a meeting between that group and Ansett’s new administrators. Air services are available on the previous Skywest routes. I would hate to think that Western Australians who were planning holidays in our State cancelled those plans because people were talking down our industry.
Mr Barnett: No-one is laughing; there is a crisis in Western Australia. Dr GALLOP: I can tell my friend, the Leader of the Opposition, that we should talk up our tourism industry and get people on the planes. I am advised that a group of regional investors is interested in purchasing Skywest without government funding. I stress “without government funding”. The Government is assisting them by endeavouring to facilitate a meeting between that group and Ansett’s new administrators. Air services are available on the previous Skywest routes. I would hate to think that Western Australians who were planning holidays in our State cancelled those plans because people were talking down our industry.
Dr GALLOP: I can tell my friend, the Leader of the Opposition, that we should talk up our tourism industry and get people on the planes. I am advised that a group of regional investors is interested in purchasing Skywest without government funding. I stress “without government funding”. The Government is assisting them by endeavouring to facilitate a meeting between that group and Ansett’s new administrators. Air services are available on the previous Skywest routes. I would hate to think that Western Australians who were planning holidays in our State cancelled those plans because people were talking down our industry.
I am advised that a group of regional investors is interested in purchasing Skywest without government funding. I stress “without government funding”. The Government is assisting them by endeavouring to facilitate a meeting between that group and Ansett’s new administrators. Air services are available on the previous Skywest routes. I would hate to think that Western Australians who were planning holidays in our State cancelled those plans because people were talking down our industry.
Air services are available on the previous Skywest routes. I would hate to think that Western Australians who were planning holidays in our State cancelled those plans because people were talking down our industry.
Dr GALLOP replied: The Government is doing all it can to maintain regional air services in Western Australia following the collapse of Ansett Australia. The Government has been in constant dialogue with Qantas Airways Ltd, and supports its efforts to support those communities affected by the demise of Ansett. Qantas advises that it has picked up all regional flights that Ansett Australia-Skywest Airlines Pty Ltd covered, except the hop from Broome to Derby. In the longer term, we need to develop a more comprehensive service for regional Western Australia, and we support Qantas in its endeavours to do that. Qantas has done a remarkable job thus far, and we commend its efforts. I was concerned to hear yesterday that one of the flights that had been organised by Qantas was cancelled due to a lack of customers. This may be due to confusion in the community, and to a degree of uncertainty. However, it is vital that the public understand that these services are in place. We want the public of Western Australia to support them. Bookings can be made by ringing Qantas on 131313, accessing its web site or through any licensed travel agent. I urge Western Australians to take to the skies. There has been a lot of discussion in our community about the doom and gloom in our tourism industry. The last thing the Government wants is for Western Australians to cancel their travel plans because of talk in the community that no facilities will be available for them. I caution people, and as I said to the member for Merredin - Mr Cowan: You take one incident and then try to generalise. You are wrong. Dr GALLOP: I am not wrong. Some of the flights have not been taken up because of confusion and uncertainty in the community. We should be talking up our tourism industry and not talking it down. We all have that important responsibility. There is too much talk of collapse and regional tourism operators going bust. That is leading a lot of people to reconsider whether they will go on holiday. We want Western Australians to go on holidays. The Government has put an additional $4 million in the budget for marketing and promoting regional tourism - as it said it would. We are not in the business of propping up individual companies. We are in the business of making sure strategic air services are available in regional Western Australia. However, we do not support propping up particular companies in this matter. Mr Cowan interjected. Dr GALLOP: I am hearing all this activity from the member for Merredin; we have not heard anything from him for years. Perhaps he is a candidate in an upcoming election? Perhaps that is the reason! Mr Barnett: No-one is laughing; there is a crisis in Western Australia. Dr GALLOP: I can tell my friend, the Leader of the Opposition, that we should talk up our tourism industry and get people on the planes. I am advised that a group of regional investors is interested in purchasing Skywest without government funding. I stress “without government funding”. The Government is assisting them by endeavouring to facilitate a meeting between that group and Ansett’s new administrators. Air services are available on the previous Skywest routes. I would hate to think that Western Australians who were planning holidays in our State cancelled those plans because people were talking down our industry.
The Government is doing all it can to maintain regional air services in Western Australia following the collapse of Ansett Australia. The Government has been in constant dialogue with Qantas Airways Ltd, and supports its efforts to support those communities affected by the demise of Ansett. Qantas advises that it has picked up all regional flights that Ansett Australia-Skywest Airlines Pty Ltd covered, except the hop from Broome to Derby. In the longer term, we need to develop a more comprehensive service for regional Western Australia, and we support Qantas in its endeavours to do that. Qantas has done a remarkable job thus far, and we commend its efforts. I was concerned to hear yesterday that one of the flights that had been organised by Qantas was cancelled due to a lack of customers. This may be due to confusion in the community, and to a degree of uncertainty. However, it is vital that the public understand that these services are in place. We want the public of Western Australia to support them. Bookings can be made by ringing Qantas on 131313, accessing its web site or through any licensed travel agent. I urge Western Australians to take to the skies. There has been a lot of discussion in our community about the doom and gloom in our tourism industry. The last thing the Government wants is for Western Australians to cancel their travel plans because of talk in the community that no facilities will be available for them. I caution people, and as I said to the member for Merredin - Mr Cowan: You take one incident and then try to generalise. You are wrong. Dr GALLOP: I am not wrong. Some of the flights have not been taken up because of confusion and uncertainty in the community. We should be talking up our tourism industry and not talking it down. We all have that important responsibility. There is too much talk of collapse and regional tourism operators going bust. That is leading a lot of people to reconsider whether they will go on holiday. We want Western Australians to go on holidays. The Government has put an additional $4 million in the budget for marketing and promoting regional tourism - as it said it would. We are not in the business of propping up individual companies. We are in the business of making sure strategic air services are available in regional Western Australia. However, we do not support propping up particular companies in this matter. Mr Cowan interjected. Dr GALLOP: I am hearing all this activity from the member for Merredin; we have not heard anything from him for years. Perhaps he is a candidate in an upcoming election? Perhaps that is the reason! Mr Barnett: No-one is laughing; there is a crisis in Western Australia. Dr GALLOP: I can tell my friend, the Leader of the Opposition, that we should talk up our tourism industry and get people on the planes. I am advised that a group of regional investors is interested in purchasing Skywest without government funding. I stress “without government funding”. The Government is assisting them by endeavouring to facilitate a meeting between that group and Ansett’s new administrators. Air services are available on the previous Skywest routes. I would hate to think that Western Australians who were planning holidays in our State cancelled those plans because people were talking down our industry.
I was concerned to hear yesterday that one of the flights that had been organised by Qantas was cancelled due to a lack of customers. This may be due to confusion in the community, and to a degree of uncertainty. However, it is vital that the public understand that these services are in place. We want the public of Western Australia to support them. Bookings can be made by ringing Qantas on 131313, accessing its web site or through any licensed travel agent. I urge Western Australians to take to the skies. There has been a lot of discussion in our community about the doom and gloom in our tourism industry. The last thing the Government wants is for Western Australians to cancel their travel plans because of talk in the community that no facilities will be available for them. I caution people, and as I said to the member for Merredin - Mr Cowan: You take one incident and then try to generalise. You are wrong. Dr GALLOP: I am not wrong. Some of the flights have not been taken up because of confusion and uncertainty in the community. We should be talking up our tourism industry and not talking it down. We all have that important responsibility. There is too much talk of collapse and regional tourism operators going bust. That is leading a lot of people to reconsider whether they will go on holiday. We want Western Australians to go on holidays. The Government has put an additional $4 million in the budget for marketing and promoting regional tourism - as it said it would. We are not in the business of propping up individual companies. We are in the business of making sure strategic air services are available in regional Western Australia. However, we do not support propping up particular companies in this matter. Mr Cowan interjected. Dr GALLOP: I am hearing all this activity from the member for Merredin; we have not heard anything from him for years. Perhaps he is a candidate in an upcoming election? Perhaps that is the reason! Mr Barnett: No-one is laughing; there is a crisis in Western Australia. Dr GALLOP: I can tell my friend, the Leader of the Opposition, that we should talk up our tourism industry and get people on the planes. I am advised that a group of regional investors is interested in purchasing Skywest without government funding. I stress “without government funding”. The Government is assisting them by endeavouring to facilitate a meeting between that group and Ansett’s new administrators. Air services are available on the previous Skywest routes. I would hate to think that Western Australians who were planning holidays in our State cancelled those plans because people were talking down our industry.
There has been a lot of discussion in our community about the doom and gloom in our tourism industry. The last thing the Government wants is for Western Australians to cancel their travel plans because of talk in the community that no facilities will be available for them. I caution people, and as I said to the member for Merredin - Mr Cowan: You take one incident and then try to generalise. You are wrong. Dr GALLOP: I am not wrong. Some of the flights have not been taken up because of confusion and uncertainty in the community. We should be talking up our tourism industry and not talking it down. We all have that important responsibility. There is too much talk of collapse and regional tourism operators going bust. That is leading a lot of people to reconsider whether they will go on holiday. We want Western Australians to go on holidays. The Government has put an additional $4 million in the budget for marketing and promoting regional tourism - as it said it would. We are not in the business of propping up individual companies. We are in the business of making sure strategic air services are available in regional Western Australia. However, we do not support propping up particular companies in this matter. Mr Cowan interjected. Dr GALLOP: I am hearing all this activity from the member for Merredin; we have not heard anything from him for years. Perhaps he is a candidate in an upcoming election? Perhaps that is the reason! Mr Barnett: No-one is laughing; there is a crisis in Western Australia. Dr GALLOP: I can tell my friend, the Leader of the Opposition, that we should talk up our tourism industry and get people on the planes. I am advised that a group of regional investors is interested in purchasing Skywest without government funding. I stress “without government funding”. The Government is assisting them by endeavouring to facilitate a meeting between that group and Ansett’s new administrators. Air services are available on the previous Skywest routes. I would hate to think that Western Australians who were planning holidays in our State cancelled those plans because people were talking down our industry.
Mr Cowan: You take one incident and then try to generalise. You are wrong. Dr GALLOP: I am not wrong. Some of the flights have not been taken up because of confusion and uncertainty in the community. We should be talking up our tourism industry and not talking it down. We all have that important responsibility. There is too much talk of collapse and regional tourism operators going bust. That is leading a lot of people to reconsider whether they will go on holiday. We want Western Australians to go on holidays. The Government has put an additional $4 million in the budget for marketing and promoting regional tourism - as it said it would. We are not in the business of propping up individual companies. We are in the business of making sure strategic air services are available in regional Western Australia. However, we do not support propping up particular companies in this matter. Mr Cowan interjected. Dr GALLOP: I am hearing all this activity from the member for Merredin; we have not heard anything from him for years. Perhaps he is a candidate in an upcoming election? Perhaps that is the reason! Mr Barnett: No-one is laughing; there is a crisis in Western Australia. Dr GALLOP: I can tell my friend, the Leader of the Opposition, that we should talk up our tourism industry and get people on the planes. I am advised that a group of regional investors is interested in purchasing Skywest without government funding. I stress “without government funding”. The Government is assisting them by endeavouring to facilitate a meeting between that group and Ansett’s new administrators. Air services are available on the previous Skywest routes. I would hate to think that Western Australians who were planning holidays in our State cancelled those plans because people were talking down our industry.
Dr GALLOP: I am not wrong. Some of the flights have not been taken up because of confusion and uncertainty in the community. We should be talking up our tourism industry and not talking it down. We all have that important responsibility. There is too much talk of collapse and regional tourism operators going bust. That is leading a lot of people to reconsider whether they will go on holiday. We want Western Australians to go on holidays. The Government has put an additional $4 million in the budget for marketing and promoting regional tourism - as it said it would. We are not in the business of propping up individual companies. We are in the business of making sure strategic air services are available in regional Western Australia. However, we do not support propping up particular companies in this matter. Mr Cowan interjected. Dr GALLOP: I am hearing all this activity from the member for Merredin; we have not heard anything from him for years. Perhaps he is a candidate in an upcoming election? Perhaps that is the reason! Mr Barnett: No-one is laughing; there is a crisis in Western Australia. Dr GALLOP: I can tell my friend, the Leader of the Opposition, that we should talk up our tourism industry and get people on the planes. I am advised that a group of regional investors is interested in purchasing Skywest without government funding. I stress “without government funding”. The Government is assisting them by endeavouring to facilitate a meeting between that group and Ansett’s new administrators. Air services are available on the previous Skywest routes. I would hate to think that Western Australians who were planning holidays in our State cancelled those plans because people were talking down our industry.
The Government has put an additional $4 million in the budget for marketing and promoting regional tourism - as it said it would. We are not in the business of propping up individual companies. We are in the business of making sure strategic air services are available in regional Western Australia. However, we do not support propping up particular companies in this matter. Mr Cowan interjected. Dr GALLOP: I am hearing all this activity from the member for Merredin; we have not heard anything from him for years. Perhaps he is a candidate in an upcoming election? Perhaps that is the reason! Mr Barnett: No-one is laughing; there is a crisis in Western Australia. Dr GALLOP: I can tell my friend, the Leader of the Opposition, that we should talk up our tourism industry and get people on the planes. I am advised that a group of regional investors is interested in purchasing Skywest without government funding. I stress “without government funding”. The Government is assisting them by endeavouring to facilitate a meeting between that group and Ansett’s new administrators. Air services are available on the previous Skywest routes. I would hate to think that Western Australians who were planning holidays in our State cancelled those plans because people were talking down our industry.
Mr Cowan interjected. Dr GALLOP: I am hearing all this activity from the member for Merredin; we have not heard anything from him for years. Perhaps he is a candidate in an upcoming election? Perhaps that is the reason! Mr Barnett: No-one is laughing; there is a crisis in Western Australia. Dr GALLOP: I can tell my friend, the Leader of the Opposition, that we should talk up our tourism industry and get people on the planes. I am advised that a group of regional investors is interested in purchasing Skywest without government funding. I stress “without government funding”. The Government is assisting them by endeavouring to facilitate a meeting between that group and Ansett’s new administrators. Air services are available on the previous Skywest routes. I would hate to think that Western Australians who were planning holidays in our State cancelled those plans because people were talking down our industry.
Dr GALLOP: I am hearing all this activity from the member for Merredin; we have not heard anything from him for years. Perhaps he is a candidate in an upcoming election? Perhaps that is the reason! Mr Barnett: No-one is laughing; there is a crisis in Western Australia. Dr GALLOP: I can tell my friend, the Leader of the Opposition, that we should talk up our tourism industry and get people on the planes. I am advised that a group of regional investors is interested in purchasing Skywest without government funding. I stress “without government funding”. The Government is assisting them by endeavouring to facilitate a meeting between that group and Ansett’s new administrators. Air services are available on the previous Skywest routes. I would hate to think that Western Australians who were planning holidays in our State cancelled those plans because people were talking down our industry.
Mr Barnett: No-one is laughing; there is a crisis in Western Australia. Dr GALLOP: I can tell my friend, the Leader of the Opposition, that we should talk up our tourism industry and get people on the planes. I am advised that a group of regional investors is interested in purchasing Skywest without government funding. I stress “without government funding”. The Government is assisting them by endeavouring to facilitate a meeting between that group and Ansett’s new administrators. Air services are available on the previous Skywest routes. I would hate to think that Western Australians who were planning holidays in our State cancelled those plans because people were talking down our industry.
Dr GALLOP: I can tell my friend, the Leader of the Opposition, that we should talk up our tourism industry and get people on the planes. I am advised that a group of regional investors is interested in purchasing Skywest without government funding. I stress “without government funding”. The Government is assisting them by endeavouring to facilitate a meeting between that group and Ansett’s new administrators. Air services are available on the previous Skywest routes. I would hate to think that Western Australians who were planning holidays in our State cancelled those plans because people were talking down our industry.
I am advised that a group of regional investors is interested in purchasing Skywest without government funding. I stress “without government funding”. The Government is assisting them by endeavouring to facilitate a meeting between that group and Ansett’s new administrators. Air services are available on the previous Skywest routes. I would hate to think that Western Australians who were planning holidays in our State cancelled those plans because people were talking down our industry.
Air services are available on the previous Skywest routes. I would hate to think that Western Australians who were planning holidays in our State cancelled those plans because people were talking down our industry.
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