Department of State Growth 4 Salamanca Place, Hobart T AS 7000 GPO Box 536, Hobart TAS 700 I Australia Tasmanian Ph 1800 030 688 Fax (03) 6233 5800 Government Email [email protected] Web www.stategrowth.tas.gov.au Committee Secretary Senate Standing Committees on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport PO Box 6100 Parliament House CANBERRA ACT 2600 Tasmanian Government Submission to the Inquiry into the operation, regulation and funding of air route service delivery to rural, regional and remote communities Dear Sir/Madam Please find enclosed a submission in response to the above Inquiry. You will be aware that an election has been called in Tasmania for 3 March 2018 and that we are presently operating in the caretaker period. I would advise that the responsible Minister, the Hon Rene Hidding MP, signed a Minute endorsing the submission prior to the calling of the election. On that basis, I have deemed it appropriate to provide this submission on behalf of the Tasmanian Government and look forward to the Inquiry deliberations and outcomes. Yours sincerely Secretary 1. - ,) February 2018 .. Submission to the Inquiry into the Rural, Regional and Remote operation, regulation and funding of air route service delivery to rural, regional and remote Communities: Aviation Services communities. in Tasmania Document title 1 Contents 1. Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................. 1 Recommendation 1 ................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Recommendation 2 ................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Recommendation 3 ................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Recommendation 4 ................................................................................................................................................................... 2 2. Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 3 4. Remote Communities of Tasmania .................................................................................................... 5 4.1. King Island .......................................................................................................................................................................... 5 4.2. The Furneaux Group ....................................................................................................................................................... 6 4.3. Other Remote Regions ................................................................................................................................................... 7 5. Tasmanian Government Initiatives .................................................................................................... 8 5.1. Education ............................................................................................................................................................................ 8 5.1.1. Professional Experience in Isolated and Rural Schools (PEIRS) Program .................................................. 9 5.1.2. Conveyance Allowance .......................................................................................................................................... 9 5.2. Transport ............................................................................................................................................................................ 9 5.2.1. Conveyance Allowance Program for the Bass Strait Islands ......................................................................... 9 5.2.2. Pensioner Air Concession ................................................................................................................................... 10 5.3. Health ................................................................................................................................................................................ 10 5.3.1. Patient Transport Assistance Scheme .............................................................................................................. 10 5.3.2. TAZREACH ............................................................................................................................................................ 11 5.4. State Growth and Tourism .......................................................................................................................................... 11 5.4.1. Population Growth Strategy ............................................................................................................................... 11 5.4.2. T21 – The Tasmanian Visitor Economy Strategy........................................................................................... 12 5.4.3. Access 2020 ............................................................................................................................................................ 12 6. Australian Government Initiatives .................................................................................................... 14 6.1. Regional Aviation Access Programme (RAAP) ........................................................................................................ 14 6.1.1. Airservices Australia Enroute Charges Payment Scheme—Eligible Routes ............................................ 14 Submission to the Inquiry into the operation, regulation and funding of air route service delivery to rural, regional and remote communities i 6.1.2. Remote Air Services Subsidy Scheme .............................................................................................................. 14 6.1.3. Remote Airstrip Upgrade Programme ............................................................................................................. 14 6.1.3.1. Round 3—Approved Projects ....................................................................................................................... 15 6.1.3.2. Round 4—Approved Projects ....................................................................................................................... 15 6.2. Building Better Regions ................................................................................................................................................. 15 6.2.1. Infrastructure Projects Stream ........................................................................................................................... 15 6.2.2. Community Investments Stream ....................................................................................................................... 16 6.3. Other Benefits ................................................................................................................................................................. 16 6.3.1. Zone Tax Offset .................................................................................................................................................... 16 6.3.2. The Royal Flying Doctor Service ....................................................................................................................... 17 7. Recommendations .............................................................................................................................. 18 7.1. Airport Security .............................................................................................................................................................. 18 Recommendation 1 ................................................................................................................................................................. 19 7.2. Commercial Services ..................................................................................................................................................... 19 7.2.1. Airports ................................................................................................................................................................... 19 Recommendation 2 ................................................................................................................................................................. 19 Recommendation 3 ................................................................................................................................................................. 19 7.2.2. Airlines ..................................................................................................................................................................... 19 Recommendation 4 ................................................................................................................................................................. 20 8. Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................... 21 Submission to the Inquiry into the operation, regulation and funding of air route service delivery to rural, regional and remote communities ii 1. Executive Summary The Tasmanian Government welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Inquiry