Despite opposing political views, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Member for the Riverina Michael McCormack have agreed regional Australians need Rex to continue, contradicting the comments made by Nationals leader David Littleproud. Photo: Rex.
Prime Minister and leader of the Labor Party Anthony Albanese and Riverina MP and Nationals Party member Michael McCormack have found common ground in support for Rex Airlines.
In the wake of the regional carrier going into voluntary administration in 2024, the Federal Government has announced that it will put a contingency plan in place to purchase the airline if a suitable candidate can’t be found to ensure it remains operational in regional areas.
One of the airline’s biggest advocates has been Member for Riverina Michael McCormack, who, despite recent comments from his party leader David Littleproud speaking against the buyout, has suggested he will do whatever it takes to continue keeping Rex planes in the air.
“I have been discussing and fighting for Rex since the time Rex got into turbulence, and that was mid last year,” Mr McCormack said.
“I put calls into the Prime Minister, the transport minister, obviously, my own side as well. I said at the time, and I don’t detract from that, I haven’t changed my view that whatever needs to be done with Rex needs to be done.”
When asked about whether party politics needs to be set aside in the case of ensuring the future of Rex in regional areas, Mr McCormack said he has crossed party lines before to ensure the best results for the people he has been elected to represent.
“I’ve crossed the floor before on the Murray Darling Basin because I didn’t believe what was happening at the time was in the best interest of the people who sent me here,” he said.
“I crossed the floor in the Coalition and I ended up as the Deputy Prime Minister. At the end of the day, you’ve got to stick up for the things you believe in. It mightn’t always be popular, it might not always be populist, it might not always go with the flow but we have to continue to push these things forward.”
The potential Rex buyout has left Mr McCormack’s party debating the best way forward when it comes to Rex’s regional future with Nationals leader David Littleproud saying too much money has already been spent on the airline.
“Well, I think we’ve spent over $130 million of Australian taxpayers’ money and don’t have a lot to show for it,” Mr Littleproud said.
“I think what we’ve got to also look at is that Rex was a viable regional airline before they had a dalliance into competing with Qantas and Virgin in the golden triangle between Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. They couldn’t compete and instead of spending money on that, they should have upgraded their fleet.”
Despite sitting on opposite ends of the political spectrum, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese followed Mr McCormack’s sentiment in securing the airline’s future, stating it is in the best interest of regional Australians for Rex to continue to operate.
“Regional Australians deserve access to quality and crucial regional aviation services,” the Prime Minister explained.
“We are working collaboratively with the administrators of Rex to ensure that regional services continue beyond June 2025, including looking at what support the Commonwealth can provide.
“Regional Australians can be assured that our government will continue to fight to ensure these regional airfares remain available.”
Original Article published by Jarryd Rowley on Region Riverina.
