Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator O'Neill for the question. It was an important announcement today. Again, the Labor government is standing up for regional communities and making sure that regional transport, including aviation services, is not reduced under this government. We believe in regional and remote communities and in the fact that they deserve reliable, affordable and accessible air travel. Today, the Prime Minister announced that we will support bidders in a second sale process for Rex Airlines to maximise the prospect of a successful sale. We have been clear that the Commonwealth is not a bidder in this process and that we want to see a successful, market led outcome, but this is an important signal to the market. We've been clear that if there is no sale we'll look at contingency options, including Commonwealth acquisition. This is because regional Australians deserve to know that we have their backs.

This announcement today, of course, builds on the announcement yesterday about ensuring regional services like banking are maintained in communities and on the important announcements by the minister for infrastructure today about the upgrade of regional airports—again, infrastructure that is essential not only for day-to-day air travel and transport but also in times of emergencies. We know those communities, Senator O'Neill, where you are the relevant senator rely so much on being able to, at short notice, ship in supplies and support at times of national emergency. We are very pleased to make these investments—certainly, the investments in airports are long overdue—and we believe, in terms of Rex, we need to make a very strong commitment to regional communities that we will maintain your air services, despite Rex Airlines going through a difficult time.