❓ The Minister for Tourism responds to a question about affordable flights to Exmouth, highlighting the government's partnership with Qantas and initiatives to reduce airfares and car rental drop-off fees, contrasting it with the previous government's inaction.
AnsweredQoN 298Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
REGIONAL AIRFARES
298. Mr K.J.J. MICHEL to the Minister for Tourism:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's record of making flights to our regional tourism
destinations more affordable. Can the minister update the house on how securing
cheaper airfares to Exmouth delivers on this government's commitment of
attracting more visitors to WA, thus supporting regional tourism businesses and
creating more jobs?
298. Mr K.J.J. MICHEL to the Minister for Tourism:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's record of making flights to our regional tourism
destinations more affordable. Can the minister update the house on how securing
cheaper airfares to Exmouth delivers on this government's commitment of
attracting more visitors to WA, thus supporting regional tourism businesses and
creating more jobs?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the
question, which he was given short notice of. I am very pleased to respond to
his question regarding affordable flights to
Exmouth, the announcement of which was made only this morning. It comes hot on
the heels of confirmation, only a little over a week ago, in the international
visitor statistics data from Tourism Research Australia that Western Australia
is leading the nation in the growth of international holiday-makers. Western Australia
has had double the national average growth in the number of international
holiday-makers. More international holiday-makers are coming to Western Australia
than ever before.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse!
Mr P. PAPALIA : There has
been magnificent growth. I know the opposition would prefer bad news. I know
members opposite do not like tourism. They talk it down at every opportunity.
Mr A. Krsticevic : Rubbish!
Rubbish!
Mr P. PAPALIA : But this is
the case: Western Australia is leading the nation.
Mr A. Krsticevic : Rubbish!
Tell the truth.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine, I heard you the first, second and third time about the rubbish, but I will
call you to order only once.
Mr P. PAPALIA : The
interstate numbers will be coming soon. I am sure they will be excellent as
well. Interstate holiday-makers are learning how wonderful Western Australia
is, now that there is a new government in town.
The announcement this morning was
about a partnership with Qantas, which follows another great initiative in
which we partnered with Qantas—the Broome affordable flight initiative.
That 12-month trial began in August last year with a view to demonstrating to
Qantas and other airlines that this is a market that is not being met. That is
working incredibly well. Nineteen thousand tickets have been sold. There is an
80 per cent loading on those flights. We have had confirmation from Qantas that
its leisure market has grown by 18 per cent over the duration of the trial to
date. Qantas is very supportive of it; it thinks it is an incredibly valuable
contribution. That has enabled Qantas to look at the Exmouth request from this
government. There was nothing in eight and a half years from the National Party
and the Liberal Party, other than them watching as regional airfares soared
beyond the reach of normal people. They took no action at all. We have done
nothing but take action ever since we took office. We are now able to say to
people in Perth that they can get a $169 one-way ticket, and there is $180 off
the return airfare for weekend flights, Friday to Monday, to Exmouth.
Dr A.D. Buti interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Armadale!
Mr P. PAPALIA : There are two World Heritage sites
there, the Ningaloo Reef, Monkey Mia and Shell Beach. There is a magnificent
opportunity to swim with turtles, manta rays and whale sharks. In August,
people can swim with whales, as the Premier and I did. It is a unique
opportunity right on our doorstep, and it is now affordable for Western Australians
and international and interstate visitors. Coincidentally, it provides locals
with the opportunity to get an easier way down to Perth and back. We also
announced, and brought to the attention of the public, that, for the first
time, people will not be hit with a $1 000 drop-off fee if they want to rent a car
in Perth, drop it off in Exmouth and then fly back to Perth. They now will not
be hit with an additional $1 000, above and beyond the rental fee. We have done
a deal with Avis. That fee has now been reduced to $250, or $150 if people are
going the other way. It is an incredible opportunity for the coral coast. What
have we done for the coral coast? Who is the member there? What did he ever do
in eight and a half years in government? We have taken Chris Hemsworth and Matt
Damon to his electorate! We have affordable flights to Monkey Mia, Carnarvon
and Exmouth. We have done more for that electorate than has ever been done by
any government in the history of Western Australia, whilst that member opposite
snoozed down here in Perth! It is extraordinary that they would even
contemplate calling him the local member. We are doing what the Liberals and
Nationals never did. People can get affordable flights to Albany, Esperance,
Monkey Mia, Carnarvon, Exmouth and Broome. This is another great initiative. We
are looking to help other places all over the state.
question, which he was given short notice of. I am very pleased to respond to
his question regarding affordable flights to
Exmouth, the announcement of which was made only this morning. It comes hot on
the heels of confirmation, only a little over a week ago, in the international
visitor statistics data from Tourism Research Australia that Western Australia
is leading the nation in the growth of international holiday-makers. Western Australia
has had double the national average growth in the number of international
holiday-makers. More international holiday-makers are coming to Western Australia
than ever before.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse!
Mr P. PAPALIA : There has
been magnificent growth. I know the opposition would prefer bad news. I know
members opposite do not like tourism. They talk it down at every opportunity.
Mr A. Krsticevic : Rubbish!
Rubbish!
Mr P. PAPALIA : But this is
the case: Western Australia is leading the nation.
Mr A. Krsticevic : Rubbish!
Tell the truth.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine, I heard you the first, second and third time about the rubbish, but I will
call you to order only once.
Mr P. PAPALIA : The
interstate numbers will be coming soon. I am sure they will be excellent as
well. Interstate holiday-makers are learning how wonderful Western Australia
is, now that there is a new government in town.
The announcement this morning was
about a partnership with Qantas, which follows another great initiative in
which we partnered with Qantas—the Broome affordable flight initiative.
That 12-month trial began in August last year with a view to demonstrating to
Qantas and other airlines that this is a market that is not being met. That is
working incredibly well. Nineteen thousand tickets have been sold. There is an
80 per cent loading on those flights. We have had confirmation from Qantas that
its leisure market has grown by 18 per cent over the duration of the trial to
date. Qantas is very supportive of it; it thinks it is an incredibly valuable
contribution. That has enabled Qantas to look at the Exmouth request from this
government. There was nothing in eight and a half years from the National Party
and the Liberal Party, other than them watching as regional airfares soared
beyond the reach of normal people. They took no action at all. We have done
nothing but take action ever since we took office. We are now able to say to
people in Perth that they can get a $169 one-way ticket, and there is $180 off
the return airfare for weekend flights, Friday to Monday, to Exmouth.
Dr A.D. Buti interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Armadale!
Mr P. PAPALIA : There are two World Heritage sites
there, the Ningaloo Reef, Monkey Mia and Shell Beach. There is a magnificent
opportunity to swim with turtles, manta rays and whale sharks. In August,
people can swim with whales, as the Premier and I did. It is a unique
opportunity right on our doorstep, and it is now affordable for Western Australians
and international and interstate visitors. Coincidentally, it provides locals
with the opportunity to get an easier way down to Perth and back. We also
announced, and brought to the attention of the public, that, for the first
time, people will not be hit with a $1 000 drop-off fee if they want to rent a car
in Perth, drop it off in Exmouth and then fly back to Perth. They now will not
be hit with an additional $1 000, above and beyond the rental fee. We have done
a deal with Avis. That fee has now been reduced to $250, or $150 if people are
going the other way. It is an incredible opportunity for the coral coast. What
have we done for the coral coast? Who is the member there? What did he ever do
in eight and a half years in government? We have taken Chris Hemsworth and Matt
Damon to his electorate! We have affordable flights to Monkey Mia, Carnarvon
and Exmouth. We have done more for that electorate than has ever been done by
any government in the history of Western Australia, whilst that member opposite
snoozed down here in Perth! It is extraordinary that they would even
contemplate calling him the local member. We are doing what the Liberals and
Nationals never did. People can get affordable flights to Albany, Esperance,
Monkey Mia, Carnarvon, Exmouth and Broome. This is another great initiative. We
are looking to help other places all over the state.
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