❓ Minister Saffioti provides an update on the regional airfare zone cap, highlighting its success in supporting regional residents and addressing cost-of-living pressures. She contrasts this with the previous government's inaction and criticises the opposition.
AnsweredQoN 504Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TRANSPORT — REGIONAL AIRFARE ZONE CAP
504. Ms D.G. D'ANNA to the Minister for Transport:
I
refer to the Cook Labor government's efforts to ease cost-of-living
pressures for families across Western Australia.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on the government's regional airfare zone
cap, including the results for its first year of operation?
(2) Can the minister outline how the
scheme is supporting people living in regional WA?
504. Ms D.G. D'ANNA to the Minister for Transport:
I
refer to the Cook Labor government's efforts to ease cost-of-living
pressures for families across Western Australia.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on the government's regional airfare zone
cap, including the results for its first year of operation?
(2) Can the minister outline how the
scheme is supporting people living in regional WA?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Kimberley for
that question.
(1)–(2) I
want to highlight some of the sporting efforts over the weekend: of course, the
mighty Matildas; the Dockers, with a big victory; and, most importantly, my
daughter Lucia, who at the Dockers game kicked a goal wearing number 10. Mighty
Lucia kicked a goal at half-time in her little WA AFL jumper.
It was an exciting time, but what is
even more exciting is the number of people who have taken advantage of the
regional airfare zone cap scheme. A total of 151 000 Western Australians have
taken advantage of the regional airfare cap.
We know that living in regional WA has its challenges. When we won government ,
it was one of the biggest issues raised with us across the state, particularly
in Karratha and Port Hedland, member for Pilbara. Member for Kalgoorlie, it was
the number one issue that was raised with us every time we went to Kalgoorlie.
Of course, member for Kimberley, whether it be Broome or Kununurra, in
particular, the cost of flying to Perth was astronomical.
In the first 12 months of the scheme,
when we capped airfares for regional residents, 151 000 airfares were booked by regional residents. That is an
enormous success. It beat all our targets and all our forecasts . The biggest uptake has been in the Pilbara, with
over 38 000 fares from Karratha, over 20 000 from Port Hedland and over
10 000 from Paraburdoo. Kalgoorlie had the second biggest take-up, with 20 000;
and, of course, member for Broome, 16 700 from Broome. The savings in some
instances are up to $500 a ticket. These are significant and real savings for
people in regional WA. I have some testimonials from people around the state.
According to my notes, a Kalgoorlie resident said —
Honestly,
with my family split between Broome and Kalgoorlie, and with mum passing in
January and us needing to get around, it was great knowing flights were
there and not stress about maybe the cost.
A Broome resident said —
I
recently had a baby and now she is 10 months old and she has done 10 flights
already. The capped scheme has made a massive difference to our ability
to fly down to visit grandparents and her grandma so they can get to know her
as she grows.
Other testimonials from Broome,
Kalgoorlie and Albany residents all support the regional airfare zone cap,
which saves them hundreds of dollars every time they fly. Indeed, 151 000
airfares have been sold under this scheme. This is the most successful initiative
that we have rolled out in transport across the state. Of course, we have all
the regional infrastructure, but this is completely changing people's
lives. Of course, it is the Labor Party supporting regional residents. The
Leader of the Opposition was out there at the Rockingham by-election wearing a Liberal
Party hat!
Mr R.S. Love : Put Labor last!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : That worked
for you, didn't it! That really worked; it worked so well—welcome
again, member for Rockingham, Magenta Marshall!
Mr R.S. Love interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : As I recall,
the cap you were wearing—they came last. Where is your white cap?
Remember, the National Party turned its back
on regional WA, targeting densely populated areas and buying Liberal Party hats .
Liberal Party bumper stickers may be next as they try to remove those awful
Metronet stickers from their cars.
Mr D.R. Michael interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Sorry?
The SPEAKER : Perhaps no more
help from interjections, thank you. Minister, if I could ask you to draw your
answer to a close, please.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : It is pretty
short, really.
Remember,
the former Liberal–National government had eight and half years in
government to deliver a scheme like this. It is an Australian first—a
capped regional airfare scheme that is supporting thousands of Western Australians living in regional WA and making it easier
to live in regional WA, and supporting the cost of living in regional WA.
that question.
(1)–(2) I
want to highlight some of the sporting efforts over the weekend: of course, the
mighty Matildas; the Dockers, with a big victory; and, most importantly, my
daughter Lucia, who at the Dockers game kicked a goal wearing number 10. Mighty
Lucia kicked a goal at half-time in her little WA AFL jumper.
It was an exciting time, but what is
even more exciting is the number of people who have taken advantage of the
regional airfare zone cap scheme. A total of 151 000 Western Australians have
taken advantage of the regional airfare cap.
We know that living in regional WA has its challenges. When we won government ,
it was one of the biggest issues raised with us across the state, particularly
in Karratha and Port Hedland, member for Pilbara. Member for Kalgoorlie, it was
the number one issue that was raised with us every time we went to Kalgoorlie.
Of course, member for Kimberley, whether it be Broome or Kununurra, in
particular, the cost of flying to Perth was astronomical.
In the first 12 months of the scheme,
when we capped airfares for regional residents, 151 000 airfares were booked by regional residents. That is an
enormous success. It beat all our targets and all our forecasts . The biggest uptake has been in the Pilbara, with
over 38 000 fares from Karratha, over 20 000 from Port Hedland and over
10 000 from Paraburdoo. Kalgoorlie had the second biggest take-up, with 20 000;
and, of course, member for Broome, 16 700 from Broome. The savings in some
instances are up to $500 a ticket. These are significant and real savings for
people in regional WA. I have some testimonials from people around the state.
According to my notes, a Kalgoorlie resident said —
Honestly,
with my family split between Broome and Kalgoorlie, and with mum passing in
January and us needing to get around, it was great knowing flights were
there and not stress about maybe the cost.
A Broome resident said —
I
recently had a baby and now she is 10 months old and she has done 10 flights
already. The capped scheme has made a massive difference to our ability
to fly down to visit grandparents and her grandma so they can get to know her
as she grows.
Other testimonials from Broome,
Kalgoorlie and Albany residents all support the regional airfare zone cap,
which saves them hundreds of dollars every time they fly. Indeed, 151 000
airfares have been sold under this scheme. This is the most successful initiative
that we have rolled out in transport across the state. Of course, we have all
the regional infrastructure, but this is completely changing people's
lives. Of course, it is the Labor Party supporting regional residents. The
Leader of the Opposition was out there at the Rockingham by-election wearing a Liberal
Party hat!
Mr R.S. Love : Put Labor last!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : That worked
for you, didn't it! That really worked; it worked so well—welcome
again, member for Rockingham, Magenta Marshall!
Mr R.S. Love interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : As I recall,
the cap you were wearing—they came last. Where is your white cap?
Remember, the National Party turned its back
on regional WA, targeting densely populated areas and buying Liberal Party hats .
Liberal Party bumper stickers may be next as they try to remove those awful
Metronet stickers from their cars.
Mr D.R. Michael interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Sorry?
The SPEAKER : Perhaps no more
help from interjections, thank you. Minister, if I could ask you to draw your
answer to a close, please.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : It is pretty
short, really.
Remember,
the former Liberal–National government had eight and half years in
government to deliver a scheme like this. It is an Australian first—a
capped regional airfare scheme that is supporting thousands of Western Australians living in regional WA and making it easier
to live in regional WA, and supporting the cost of living in regional WA.
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