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Labor commits to aviation reform to boost Tasmanian tourism

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Dean Winter with Norris Carter and Amy Hills at Hobart Airport today
Tasmanian State Election Coverage

Labor have promised to overhaul Tasmania’s Aviation Attraction Fund to deliver “tens of thousands” more airline seats without additional budget expenditure if elected, in a bid to revitalise the state’s tourism sector.

The opposition has pledged to modify existing guidelines that currently limit the $5 million fund to new routes, instead expanding it to include capacity increases on popular existing routes like Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

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Labor leader Dean Winter said the Liberal government had failed since the program’s introduction.

“Under the Liberals, the Aviation Attraction Fund has failed to add a single extra flight 15 months after it was announced. As usual, they are all announcements and no delivery,” Winter said.

The Aviation Attraction Fund is currently limited to new routes only. Image / Pulse

“We will reform the aviation attraction fund, bringing in tens of thousands more tourists – and it will not cost the budget an extra cent.”

Winter also promised to develop new funding plans for several iconic projects including the Cradle Mountain Cableway, after the state lost federal funding.

Labor plans to expand funding to include capacity increases on existing routes

Hobart Airport CEO Norris Carter welcomed the proposed changes, calling it “a small change that will have a big impact.”

“This change will allow airports to secure more seats on the most popular flights, from the most popular destinations,” Carter said.

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The airport recently secured a deal with Jetstar for up to 50,000 extra passengers on Hobart-Melbourne flights from July 1 using a different government funding stream that already permits support for existing routes.

Hobart Airport is currently investing $200 million to expand its terminal and $130 million for runway upgrades, with Carter saying the airport is “proud to play a role in growing tourism in Tasmania.”

Jetstar recently announced it will provide up to 50,000 extra seats on Hobart-Melbourne flights. Image / Pulse

Premier Jeremy Rockliff has shut down Dean Winter’s claims that the Aviation Fund isn’t working, accusing Winter of ‘copying his homework’.

“What’s been great … is the investment we’ve made in co-investment with Air New Zealand, which has brought New Zealanders into Tasmania, which is fantastic,” Rockliff said.

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“We’re encouraging new routes as well, which is the idea of the aviation fund. But we’ve also, through discussions with airports, Hobart Airport, Launceston Airport, of course, extending that to existing route.”

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