Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Gilmore for the question. I know she is a fantastic supporter of regional aviation and a great supporter of the announcement we made this week about investments in her electorate at Moruya Airport, which she advocated for.

The Albanese Labor government is building Australia's future by working to ensure the future of critical aviation services in our regions. We believe that Australians living in regional and remote communities deserve access to air travel that is affordable and reliable. Yesterday we announced the government will support short-listed bidders to maximise a successful sale of Rex Airlines to ensure crucial regional aviation services continue beyond 30 June. We've been clear the Commonwealth is not a bidder in this process but we want to see a successful market-led outcome. When markets fail or struggle to deliver for regional communities, the government has a role to ensure people don't miss out on opportunities, education and the critical connections that aviation brings. The same is, of course, true in telecommunications as well. We have been absolutely clear that, if there is no second sale, we will look at the contingency options, including preparations necessary for potential Commonwealth acquisition, and work with the states on that.

While this side of the House is doing everything it can to protect and support regional Australians, we saw the Liberals and Nationals confirm that they see no role for government in this. In fact, they have actively said that they will oppose it.

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