Speech by

Hon. PETER BEATTIE

MEMBER FOR CENTRAL

Hansard 20 June 2001

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Flight West Hon. P. D. BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Minister for Trade) (9.41 a.m.), by leave: The government is working hard to provide solutions to the problems created by the collapse of Flight West. The main problems are the immediate plight of passengers left stranded by the collapse, finding a replacement company or companies to take over the services and helping Flight West's work force. I promised in a general sense yesterday that I would keep the House informed, and I am doing so today. I am aware that many children will be trying to get home for the school holidays on Thursday and Friday of this week. Transport is investigating what can be done to help these families. We are negotiating with a number of operators to provide services according to seat and aircraft availability where possible on routes previously operated exclusively by Flight West, and that is part of the problem. Passengers should contact Ansett, Qantaslink or their local agent for advice about the availability of these services. In relation to a medium-term solution for air services to these regional areas, Queensland Transport is writing today to operators who have expressed an interest requesting them to submit bids for each of the contracted areas. The Department of State Development is talking to a number of potential operators to encourage them to bid for these routes. Queensland Transport has advised that it will begin assessing these proposals at 9 a.m. on Friday morning. I again assure the House that the $3.8 million of government subsidy is available for these operators and will remain available. We are determined to ensure the bush gets a fair go. Virgin is also examining the situation to see if it can take up any of the routes. I am advised that Queensland Transport will make a decision on new contracts within a week. Contracts will be put in place until 30 June 2002 to ensure continuity of services and certainty to both passengers and operators for that period. The government has guaranteed—and I stress this again—that current subsidies will be available under the new contracts, that is, the $3.8 million. Between now and 30 June 2002, Queensland Transport will undertake a comprehensive review of current routes and services. Consultation will occur with local government, the community, industry and other stakeholders and a tender process will allow new contracts to be let after this date. Qantaslink has advised that it has entered into an arrangement with Regional Pacific, which will run a twin otter service from the northern peninsula area to Horn Island to link with flights to and from . This arrangement is offered on a non-exclusive basis and provides a level of service to residents in those areas. I thank Qantaslink for that offer and that service. Offers for services between Cairns and the northern peninsula area will also be sought from interested operators. Ansett has requested Qantaslink assist with providing interim services to until it sources an aircraft to allow it to resume the contract for Cairns-Weipa. When it comes to staff, the Department of State Development has been in communication with the liquidator and is awaiting advice in relation to the more than 400 Flight West staff. What we need to know is the number of workers at each location, whether they are full time, part time, casual or on contract. We are also seeking details of job descriptions—administration, trade, ground staff and management—and what entitlements and other benefits the company will be in a position to provide. Department of Employment and Training officers want to reach workers to assess and discuss their situations. Once the department has this information, the immediate response group can assess which type of assistance should be brought into play. The types of assistance that could be offered include training, job preparation, employer subsidy and relocation. Virgin has also offered assistance to Flight West staff to fly home on Virgin where they have been left stranded. The situation is obviously changing on an hourly basis, but I can assure members that the government is doing everything it can to help stranded passengers and find short-term and long-term solutions to replacing the Flight West services.