THE restoration of Regional Express (REX) flights between Mount Gambier and Adelaide will “take some time”, Tourism Minister David Ridgway has told parliament.
The State Opposition called on the minister to prioritise the reinstatement of Rex flights to and from the South East as a matter of urgency following the airline’s recent scaling back of services.
Labor Legislative Council deputy leader Clare Scriven quizzed Mr Ridgway on whether he had sought advice about the impact of the reduction of flights on the tourism industry, with the minister telling the house he would be in the region “in the very near future” to gauge the impact.
When asked by Labor if he had spoken to anybody in Rex Airlines about the withdrawal of the service, Mr Ridgway said he would have to “check my records”, indicating Regional Development Minister Tim Whetson had taken the lead on the issue.
“He has spoken at length with Rex and I had meetings with him the first time he became aware,” Mr Ridgway said.
“I have had a number of meetings with the minister for regional development.
“We recently revisited the regional visitor strategy and I will be in the South East talking to operators in the very near future to gauge that impact.
“It is disappointing when a regional airline reduces services and we are doing everything we can to talk to Rex about getting that airline back in service and servicing Mount Gambier.”
Last month, Rex cancelled five return weekly services between Mount Gambier and Adelaide citing “unfair criticism” levelled at the airline by local officials as contributing to the move.
The cuts follow concerns raised by individuals and groups as part of a senate inquiry into flight prices in regional, rural and remote locations.
Ms Scriven said the region’s tourism sector was reliant on regular and easily accessible transport.
“Each time flights are reduced, that means fewer visitors and fewer tourism dollars for the Limestone Coast,” she said.
