Direct flight push to ACT

THE push by the ACT Chief Minister to re-establish direct flights from Hobart to Canberra has received support from Tasmanian senator Lisa Singh, who says the flights will save taxpayers money.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr has written to Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman, urging him to join him in a push for the reinstatement of direct flights between Hobart and Canberra.

Virgin Australia used to operate a service between the two cities but scrapped the direct flights in 2013 with a main reason being limited demand.

But Mr Barr says with tourism “booming” between the two cities, the service should be re-established.

“With Tasmania tourism booming in the same way ACT tourism is booming, I think we have a positive case to put to the airlines,” he said.

Senator Singh said a direct flight would reduce the amount of money Tasmania’s Federal Parliament members spend each year.

Taxpayers have to cough up hundreds of thousands of dol- lars for politicians to fly to Canberra for sitting weeks and Senator Singh said a direct flight between the two cities would be a great benefit.

“With Tasmanians hungry to take advantage of broader travel options, I agree that cutting out the connection in Melbourne or Sydney would let Tasmanians travel to Australia’s national capital as easily as citizens from every other state capital can,” she said.

A state government spokesman said any new flights would need to be commercially viable — a matter for individual airlines to consider.

“But, of course, we would welcome any airlines who are interested in providing new flights into and out of Tasmania.”