Number: 2025/11
Date of Issue: 01/07/2025
Review Date: 30/06/2029
Policy
The Government requires departments, other public sector agencies and non-SES organisations to use regular public transport air services (where available) when travelling to regional and remote communities throughout Western Australia. Non-SES organisations include statutory office holders, including the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administrative Investigations, the Public Sector Commissioner, the Information Commissioner, the Inspector of Custodial Services, and any similar office.
Exemptions to this policy can be made when the cost per passenger to use a closed charter flight is less than the cost per passenger to use a public service, and when air travel by a department, agency or non-SES organisation must be undertaken in an emergency.
Background
Aviation services are important for Western Australia’s social and economic wellbeing.
The Western Australian State Aviation Strategy supports the Government’s vision to maintain and develop quality air services that are essential to regional and remote communities.
The Review of Regulated Regular Public Transport Air Routes in Western Australia, released in 2015, committed to a policy to support the ongoing social and economic development of communities through safe, affordable, efficient and effective aviation services.
The Government’s position is to balance a light-handed approach to regulation of air routes with the need to maintain marginal air services for regional and remote towns. The policy objectives include:
- ensuring an adequate level of regular public transport air services on regional routes in WA;
- ensuring charter air services do not detract from the viability of regular public transport air services; and
- minimising direct costs to the State.
However, there continues to be a high volume of air charter traffic operating on some regular public transport air routes, a significant proportion of which is being generated by Government departments, agencies and non-SES organisations.
Greater and more consistent use of public air transport by departments, agencies and non-SES organisations will help fulfil the Government’s objective to maintain an adequate level of regular public transport air services to remote and regional towns to ensure their continued social and economic wellbeing.
Roger Cook MLA
PREMIER
Other relevant Circulars: N/A
Circular/s replaced by this Circular: 2021/15, 2019/03, 2016/04
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