Dear Ms Hudson,
I write about the troubling announcement today Qantas is retiring its aircraft that can land on Lord Howe Island’s runway.
Losing the Qantas Lord Howe Island service would be devastating for this spectacular part of Australia.
Lord Howe Island relies on tourism for its survival. There are 21 accommodation lodges that host 16,000 tourists each year – although never more than 400 at a time.
A regular air service is a cornerstone of Lord Howe Island’s major source of jobs.
Of course, Islanders also depend on Qantas flights to travel to the mainland for school, medical appointments, work, and to see friends and family.
In addition, the remoteness of Lord Howe Island means that everything from food to fuel must come by freight, including by air.
I have consistently raised this issue with Qantas, including at the CEO level over many years.
In troubled times, Qantas, as our national carrier, has often been the beneficiary of Australian taxpayer support. As such, I believe Qantas has a particular responsibility to the Lord Howe Island community.
I am pleased Qantas has confirmed this morning that it will not leave Lord Howe Island without an air service and will work with the community on options for the future.
I will be following this closely and hope to receive regular updates from Qantas on your plans to meet the needs of this extraordinary community.
Yours sincerely,
Federal Member for Sydney
Tanya Plibersek