Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee - Cairns, QLD (part 1 of 2) — hearing of 29 July 2026: transcript & video · Polyfact

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Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee - Cairns, QLD (part 1 of 2)

28 July 2026

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Contents updated on 22 Oct 2026

Senators formally open the regional aviation inquiry and hear from Advance Cairns on Far North Queensland’s reliance on air services, high regional airfares, hub and tourism roles, airline reliability, fleet and defence‑aviation growth, skills pipelines and health access for remote communities.

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Committee opening and Advance Cairns evidence

15:44

Committee opening — procedure and witness introduction

15:44

Advance Cairns — regional context and aviation dependence

17:20

High regional airfares and limited connectivity — examples and causes

22:55

Cairns as national security and Pacific aviation hub

27:52

Tourism potential vs affordability and capacity constraints

31:17

Reliability of major airlines and Queensland local fare scheme

33:01

Aging fleets, maintenance costs and defence–aviation growth

35:06

Skills, training and health access via regional aviation

38:33

Cairns Airport: pricing, security and regulated routes

49:14

Cairns Airport CEO — opening statement on equity and connectivity

49:14

Flood‑resilient airport precincts and emergency services relocation

53:26

Security screening costs, cross‑subsidies and small airport impacts

01:00:25

Airport investment models, flood standards and accessibility

01:03:53

General aviation viability, aging fleets and subsidy design

01:08:20

Regulated routes, subsidies and lack of transparency

01:22:42

Supporting competition and NAIF’s potential role in fleet finance

01:27:54

Demand forecasting, monopoly routes and capacity constraints

01:32:31

Cape York education access and embedded flight costs

01:43:11

Hinterland Aviation: fleet renewal, regulation and local fares

02:06:13

Hinterland Aviation — fleet renewal and loan guarantee proposal

02:06:13

Training, capital costs and limited aircraft options

02:10:19

Government guarantees, NAIF finance and managing risk

02:13:59

CASA processes, first‑of‑type certification and administrative delay

02:22:37

Security screening charges and terminal vs GA operations

02:26:36

Lead times for regulated tenders and fleet investment

02:32:16

Flat local fares, schedule frequency and community access

02:40:10

The ‘Great Red Moat’ — Qantas dominance and procurement incentives

02:47:06

Pricing structures, local resident schemes and airport charges

02:57:03

Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport: security costs and regional hub role

02:58:57

Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport — strategic role and cost pressures

02:58:57

Security levies, risk‑based regulation and funding models

03:06:17

Critical juncture for regional connectivity and underused hubs

03:09:24

State initiatives, stalled consultations and Qantas cost‑sharing

03:20:22

CRC for Developing Northern Australia: aviation as essential infrastructure

04:34:47

CRC for Developing Northern Australia — aviation as essential infrastructure

04:34:47

Health, telehealth and remote economic opportunities

04:37:24

Seasonality, supply chains and climate‑driven resilience

04:46:15

NAIF financing mandate and Cairns Council perspective

05:07:20

NAIF — mandate, airport investments and risk profile

05:07:20

NAIF’s approach to aircraft finance, pricing and public benefit

05:16:28

Cairns Regional Council — aviation dependence and opening statement

05:58:14

Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee - Cairns, QLD (part 1 of 2)

28 July 2026

Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee Wed, 29 Jul 2026 Australian Parliament

15:43 - 17:08

Speaker 1

This hearing of the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee into Regional Aviation. I'm the chair, senator Ross Caddell. I will shortly be joined by senator the honorable Richard Colbeck. I have senator Josh D'Lega and senator Paul Scar with us now. These are public proceedings being recorded and live audio streamed via the parliament's website, and Hansard transcript is being made.

I remind all witnesses that in giving evidence to the committee, they are protected by parliamentary privilege. It is unlawful for anyone to threaten or disadvantage a witness on account of evidence given to a committee, and as such, action may be treated by the senate as a contempt. It is also a contempt to give false or misleading evidence. Witnesses also have a right to be, heard in camera. If a witness objects to answering a question, they should state the ground upon which the objection is made, and the committee will determine whether it will insist on an answer, having regard to the ground on which it is claimed.

If the committee determines to insist on an answer, a witness may request that the answer be given in camera. I also remind senators of their obligations under behavioral code of conduct for the Australian parliamentarians to treat witnesses with dignity, courtesy, fairness, and respect. Finally, I remind witnesses who are appearing via teleconference as one today, who are not speaking to mute their microphones and remember to unmute when you speak. We all fall for that when it happens. I now welcome Mrs.

Jennifer Spillsbury from Advanced Cairns. Welcome. I understand that information given parliamentary privilege and protection of witness has been given to you.

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