North West Queensland calls on Rex administrators to ‘get on with it.’
The North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (NWQROC) has welcomed the renewed commitment from the Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Catherine King to support the continued operation of Regional Express (REX) Airlines as administrators proceed to finalise the sale of the airline.
NWQROC Chair and Etheridge Shire Mayor, Cr Barry Hughes, said the announcement was a welcome step toward in ensuring regional routes are maintained in the short term, but added that the frustration of the protracted sale process and disruption experienced by communities cannot continue indefinitely.
“We are encouraged by Minister King’s commitment last week and understand the administrators are in advanced stages of the sale negotiation but in the meantime, aircraft are breaking down, flights are being cancelled, and confidence is deteriorating,” Cr Hughes said.
“We need the administrator to get on with the job. Communities across the North West need certainty. Finalise the sale and deliver a long-term solution that includes investment in the fleet and the services our communities rely on and deserve.”
“We need the administrator to get on with the job. Communities across the North West need certainty. Finalise the sale and deliver a long-term solution that includes investment in the fleet and the services our communities rely on and deserve.”
“The Queensland Government’s new Connecting Queensland initiative, designed to improve regional air access and attract new routes, highlights what we all know - there is a huge opportunity here. Not just to maintain what we’ve got, but to grow it,” he said.
“The potential beyond Australia’s coastal routes is ready to be unlocked with long-term investment, particularly in expanding and maintaining a fit-for-purpose aircraft fleet, and we’re ready to get right behind investors who can deliver this outcome,” Cr Hughes said.
NWQROC represents 12 councils across the North West, and councils have expressed growing concern about the increasing unreliability of REX services, a sentiment which is echoed across all of Western Queensland.
Chair of the North West Queensland Regional Roads and Transport Group and Richmond Shire Mayor, Cr John Wharton, said the failures were directly impacting the quality of life for residents and the reputation of the region.
“We’ve had people sitting at the airport in Richmond for hours, only to be told no plane is coming. This is more than inconvenient - it’s unacceptable. On the other end of those flights are medical appointments, business opportunities and personal expenses gone,” Cr Wharton said.
“We want and deserve better. These are first-world communities, and we should have first-world services. We need immediate action taken to improve service reliability across the network now and a committed buyer ready to grow on that in the long-term - not just here in the North West, but across Western Queensland.”
Flinders Shire Mayor, Cr Kate Peddle, said her community is preparing for significant growth, and the existing aviation services fall far short of what is needed.
“In Hughenden, we are preparing for a significant increase of personnel with the upcoming CopperString 2032 project. The construction of the workers' camp is complete, and our community stands ready to support this transformative initiative. The reality is that we will soon need to accommodate a substantially higher number of workers, and this will require aircraft with greater capacity - specifically, the Q400s,” Cr Peddle said.
“I strongly urge any new ownership of REX to engage directly with local councils, commit to investing in fleet upgrades, and acknowledge the pressing needs of regional communities like ours. We must have all stakeholders - new airline owners, government representatives, local councils, and Powerlink - around the same table to create a sustainable, future-proof solution for air travel in Hughenden and the greater Flinders Shire.”
Carpentaria Shire Mayor, Cr Jack Bawden said the isolation of communities in the Gulf made airline service reliability absolutely essential.
“Residents of Normanton, Mornington Island, Burketown and Doomadgee are feeling they are ‘out of sight and out of mind’. Essential health and medical services rely on daily flights in and out of the region but for too long flight cancellations have added unacceptable stress to the health and wellbeing of vulnerable residents of the North West,” Cr Bawden said.
“And then there’s the reliance on air services when our communities are flooded in for weeks and months at a time! Sadly, an ever-increasing situation. Resupply of essentials by air is the only option. REX has to play its part and lift its game making sure its fleet is ready and able to fly and aircraft are available to cover breakdowns.”
“We call on the Administrators to get on and conclude the sale, ensuring the new owner has the capacity to reliably to meet not only today’s needs but also grow air services to the Gulf.”
Contact:
Greg Hoffman PSM, NWQROC Executive Officer
Mob: 0418 756 005
Email: nwqroc@carpentaria.qld.gov.au
