THE State Government is currently in discussions with Regional Express (Rex) about potential grant funding schemes after the airline announced a skeletal weekly return service on two Mount Gambier routes.
On Monday night, Rex announced it would slash Mount Gambier-Adelaide and Mount Gambier-Melbourne return flights to just one per week and stop flights entirely if Federal Government funding was not forthcoming.
In the release, the airline said unlike Queensland and Western Australia, the South Australian Government had not shown any interest in a partnership approach.
Rex deputy chairman John Sharp said if Rex’s application for Federal Government funding was not successful, the airline would suspend services in South Australia.
He said the airline was fully mindful of the horrifying consequences to regional and rural communities may face due to not having any air services or having a dramatically reduced air service.
“Lives could be lost because medical samples could not be tested in a timely manner or blood could not be transported,” Mr Sharp said.
“Rex had been fulfilling this critical and essential community service role in the past two decades without assistance from anyone and often even losing money on communities with very small passenger numbers, because our heart is in the country and we were profitable enough to do so.”
But Transport Minister Stephan Knoll has not committed to funding the airline, saying regional airlines had been supported by waiving fuel excise, air service charges and regional security charges.
“The State Government understands that Rex Airlines is still working with the Federal Government about how they can benefit from the Federal Government’s $1b aviation commitment,” he said.
“We are also in discussions with Rex Airlines about how they may be able to access our economic and business funds.”
Member for Barker Tony Pasin urged his South Australian counterparts to follow the lead of the Queensland and Western Australian governments to secure more return trips on the Mount Gambier route.
Mr Pasin said one return flight per week would be insufficient to meet the needs of the Limestone Coast community.
“I have impressed upon the deputy Prime Minister and the South Australian Transport Minister the fact that in Mount Gambier, unlike Port Lincoln and Whyalla where QantasLink operates, Rex is the only carrier and special consideration ought to be given to our community in this circumstance,” he said.
“I can advise the deputy Prime Minister is currently in discussions with Regional Express and I am hopeful over the course of the coming days, further discussions will result in up to three return trips per week.
“While it is sub optimal, it would be a significant improvement on the suggested route.”
Labor parliamentarian Clare Scriven urged the State Government to step in urgently to protect the service, saying it any closure would have devastating effects on the community.
“We know many medical specialists from Adelaide fly here to provide their services at Mount Gambier Hospital and clearly those services are now at serious risk,” she said.
“We also risk medical samples being unable to be tested in a timely manner putting patients health at risk.
“During the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for swift testing and results has become even more clear.”
