Pilbara Nats and Libs candidates commit to regional airfare caps and hit back at WA Labor claims

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Pilbara Nats and Libs candidates commit to regional airfare caps and hit back at WA Labor claims

Pilbara candidates for the WA Nationals and Liberals have shot back at WA Labor’s claims that discounted airfares for regional residents could be at risk if either party were elected.

On Tuesday, WA Labor issued a statement which claimed its regional airfare zone cap could be scrapped under the Liberals and Nationals.

Pilbara Liberal candidate Amanda Kailis confirmed a WA Liberal government would be committed to a continuation of the Regional Airfare Zone Cap.

“Any suggestion that this scheme is under threat by the Liberal Party is scaremongering by Roger Cook and Rita Saffioti, and has no basis whatsoever,” she said.

“I will be working to see more regional flights, which will include a link with Exmouth, and will support efforts made to connect Exmouth with the Eastern States, and to increase connections between Karratha and Port Hedland, so that travellers do not have to go through Perth.

“Air links are like roads – they are growth drivers for the economy and diversification of the economy as well as connecting people.”

Similarly, Nationals WA have no intention of scrapping the program.

Pilbara Nationals WA candidate Kieran Dart said he strongly supported the development of international flights from both Port Hedland and Karratha and affordable regional flight options.

“Although $600 caped return flights are appreciated, the cost of all airfares within the State remains very high compared to international flights,” he said.

“Qantas currently has return flights from Perth to Singapore for $519, which is lower than the subsidised Karratha to Perth return flight.”

Mr Dart said although many in the mining sector negotiated reduced commercial rates for flights due to the volume booked, there were still some sectors that struggled with paying full price fares, including small businesses, non-government organisations and local governments.

“These groups should be applauded rather than penalised for the often unappreciated work they do for our communities,” he said.

“Many individuals also face full-price one-way flight costs, when the one-way cost can often exceed the capped return price.”

The Regional Airfare Zone Cap was introduced in 2022, where regional residents flying to Perth for personal travel had their flights capped at $199 or $299 one-way, depending on proximity to the city.

More than 420,000 airfares have been capped since the inception of the program.

“Karratha has had the biggest uptake of capped flights at 100,000 airfares sold, which is the biggest uptake across the State,” Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said.

“When we became elected in 2017, one of the biggest issues that was raised by us, by all of our regional members and by regional communities, was the price of airfares.

“Some companies support their workers with cheaper flights, but it’s all those other people that don’t have access to those cheaper flights that were missing out, such as people in hospitality, people working in government services, people working in the community, and so we really want to make sure that everyone had a level playing field.”

WA Labor recently announced a further $4 million would be invested in the Regional Airfare Zone Cap scheme, extending it by six months until the middle of 2026.

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