Senator The Hon Bridget McKenzie
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport & Regional Development

Leader of The Nationals in the Senate
Senator for Victoria

Dr Anne Webster MP
Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories

Shadow Minister for Regional Communications
Federal Member for Mallee

MEDIA RELEASE

16 September 2025

NATIONALS SLAM QANTAS FOR ABANDONING REGIONAL BASES

Qantas’ proposal to shutter Mildura, Hobart and Canberra bases has been condemned as another crippling blow to regional aviation in Australia.

On top of the collapse of Rex and Bonza, Qantas has decided to consolidate the home base of pilots and cabin crew to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane affecting around 70 crew and their families.

Nationals Senate Leader and Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Senator Bridget McKenzie, and Dr Anne Webster, Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Local Government, Territories and Regional Communications - whose electorate of Mallee is directly impacted by the changes, have condemned Qantas’ proposal.

Dr Webster described the move as short-sighted, poorly consulted and damaging to Mildura, a busy regional capital, which had already experienced an increase in fares.

Senator McKenzie said the proposed closures show Qantas had dealt a stunning blow to people in regional Australia which had come on top of the gutting regional services.

“Qantas will be adding to the retreat of professional careers from the regions and disrupting families who have built their lives around doing what you love where you live,” Senator McKenzie said.

“This makes a mockery of an airline that was born and raised in regional Australia.

“Qantas is undermining communities - relocating pilots and crew - while insisting services will somehow be unaffected,” she said.

“And let’s be clear: Mildura is regional Victoria’s largest airport, and Hobart and Canberra are capital city ports. These are not remote airstrips. Their closure as Qantas bases underlines how far Qantas has drifted from its founding mission.”

“Qantas executives have said the jobs of Hobart, Mildura and Canberra based pilots and flight crew are not at risk but that is not the view of staff affected.”

Coverage in Tasmanian media described the Hobart decision as a “gut punch” for Tasmania, with crew who only recently relocated now facing upheaval again.

Dr Webster said Mildura’s inclusion in the closures is devastating for her electorate, where the local Qantas base has been vital for connectivity and certainty, and has critical to attract professionals to work in the region.

“Qantas has been running down these bases by stealth - scheduling rosters in ways that undermine efficiency and now declaring the regionally based staff model will not work for the airline’s future.

“It’s an insult to workers who are long-time Mildura residents, and to the communities who rely on them. For Mildura, this is not just about jobs - it’s about access, confidence and long-term viability.”

Both leaders were critical of Qantas’ staff consultation process, saying flight crew fear they will be worse off, connection to their regional and capital city communities lost, and urged Infrastructure and Transport Minister Catherine King to step in.

“Australians - especially those outside Sydney and Melbourne - deserve better than this cycle of closures, uncertainty and consolidation. The Government cannot stand by while the national carrier shrinks its footprint,” Dr Webster said.

Senator McKenzie added, “This isn’t just about workers - it’s about connectivity, liveability and the future of regional Australia. Qantas needs to stop retreating into the big cities and start looking after the nation that gave it its wings.”

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