Senator Jacqui Lambie says regional airline passengers bear an unfair cost burden for security services compared with travellers at major city airports. Photo: Rex Media Centre.
Senator Jacqui Lambie and her Senate candidate for South Australia Rex Patrick have pledged, if re-elected, to introduce a bill in the first sitting week of the new Parliament that would lower airfares for regional travellers.
Senator Lambie says costs for regional travellers have risen due to regional airports being directed to increase security screening of passengers before boarding. The cost of installing and operating the screening equipment is being passed on to airlines by the airports, causing airfares to rise.
The Tasmanian firebrand said the costs associated with security were being “shoved onto local councils and communities”.
“National security costs must be shared across the nation,” she said.
“Canberra-based bureaucrats don’t have any idea about the damage they’re causing, and the government doesn’t seem to understand that airports are the lifeblood of regional communities.
“In the case of mainland regions, higher costs cause people to switch to much more dangerous long-distance road travel. On my island state of Tasmania, there are no alternative solutions.”
Senator Lambie said the downside of the increased airfares included lost connectivity with family and friends, social isolation, missed or limited business opportunities, and a lack of access to personal development opportunities, including employment training.
As a result, she said small towns found it difficult to retain residents and employees, tourism opportunities were reduced, there was a lack of access to medical care, there were impacts on families with children in boarding schools, and the costs were an additional burden to the already significant costs of living in remote and regional areas.
Mr Patrick said the charging regimen was damaging to those who used regional airports, accounting for a larger percentage of airfares compared with passengers flying out of major city airports.
Senator Jacqui Lambie. Photo: Jacqui Lambie Instagram.
“At Port Lincoln Airport, passengers pay about $15 per ticket, $45 at Whyalla, and as will be the case soon, $90 per passenger at Mount Gambier,” he said.
“Yet, passengers in Sydney pay only 70 cents.”
Mr Patrick said the charges in Whyalla, which were imposed in 2023, had caused Rex to cease services to the airport, resulting in weekly passenger numbers dropping from 1500 to 900.
“Regional air services play a vital role in sustaining regional economies and communities, enabling access to specialised health, education, commercial and recreational facilities, and facilitating social connections,” he said.
Senator Lambie’s proposed bill would see a uniform government levy imposed on all airline passengers, and the cost of security screening would be met by the government.
“With this new system, passengers travelling through Sydney might have their security screening charges increased from 70 cents to $1, while passengers travelling through Mount Gambier could have their security screening charges decreased from $90 to $1,” Mr Patrick said.
“No-one in the major cities is going to complain about spending 30 cents to help out their mates in the region, and I can’t see how the next government, either Labor or LNP, could say no to that.
“This is common sense and fairness for all Australians, wherever they live.”
