Media Release

KAP Leader and Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter today joined the chorus of growing community frustration at airline prices in and out of Mount Isa and said that the local business community needed to do more to ensure at least 70 percent capacity on flights in and out of the mining city.

The Fight for Flights In Isa online petition has gathered momentum over recent weeks, calling for flights into and out of Mount Isa at reasonable rates. The cost of a return airfare to Brisbane or Townsville from Mount Isa can routinely cost over $1,000.00, with families hardest hit by the prohibitive costs.

Mr Katter today called on business leaders in Mount Isa to re-institute a yearly airfare for employees and their families to either Townsville or Brisbane, which would go a long way to ensuring that flights in and out of the city met minimum capacity targets.

“This problem has got to be addressed, the current prices are outrageous, but the current prices reflect planes going out half full.

“As a person who lived most of his life in the Far North West, there’s no doubt that there’s a feeling of being trapped and isolated as the cost of getting to the Coast is prohibitive.

“But if we can guarantee 70 percent capacity and do away with a few of the frills, then we should be able to bring the prices down, and if the price comes down then a hell of a lot more people will fly to the Coast.

“It used to be the case that Mt Isa Mines provided an annual airfare for the whole family to Brisbane and back.

“All of the major employers, including Government departments, need to start putting flights for the family into employment contracts again - that would guarantee that the flights are fuller.

“To the company it’s cheaper, for the employee it’s cheaper, except for the tax man everyone’s happy.

“Whether it’s to pursue business opportunities in Townsville, visit kids at university in Brisbane, see a specialist surgeon or go to watch the Cowboys run round the paddock, our people need to be able to get out of Mount Isa at an affordable rate,” Mr Katter said.

Mr Katter said that he would be scheduling talks with both Trade Union representatives and major employers in Mount Isa this week.

Petition can be found here:

https://www.change.org/p/queensland-airports-limited-qantas-virgin-australia-airfares-in-and-out-of-mt-isa-at-a-reasonable-cost?source_location=petition_footer&algorithm=promoted