Qantas has insulted the Sunraysia population and should no longer be allowed to call itself the ‘Spirit of Australia’, Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster MP said today after Qantas confirmed their worst-kept secret on closing its Mildura, Hobart and Canberra bases.

"Qantas can try to spin this however they like, they engineered the very outcome they have announced with crocodile tears today,” Dr Webster said.

“Qantas has slapped Sunraysia in the face despite our history of Qantaslink passenger traffic for over 30 years. Today’s decision to close the Mildura Qantas base next April shows total disrespect to long-standing Mildura residents, pilots and cabin crew, who have served with distinction and this is the thanks they get. Just two years' support to commute from Mildura to alternate 'bases' in Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane, with no guarantee after that and unclear financial support arrangements.  

“Has Qantas considered the cost not only of purchasing a similar home in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane compared to an existing home in Mildura, or of spouses or partners changing jobs, but also children changing schools and all of the family disengaging from Mildura social life?”

“This is a premeditated Qantas-engineered closure. Qantas have whittled down the Mildura workforce over a period of years so effective rosters cannot be filled.  They are simply going through the motions.  Once again consultation means nothing.”

“Qantas has today insulted every working Australian on the Albanese Labor Government's watch and all Transport Minister King can say is 'please reconsider'?  Where's the fight for workers?  I assure you that I, and The Nationals, are fighting for these workers and for regional Australians.

“I am also concerned that Qantaslink service reliability to Mildura will be affected because Qantas has hollowed out local staffing.  This is a repeat of Qantas’ 2008 Mildura maintenance facility closure where, now, if planes break down an engineer has to be flown in, causing significant delays or cancellations.”

“Sunraysia residents and regional Australians are sick of being treated as second class citizens by city-centric Labor Governments and big corporations who should be more grateful to governments that helped them through the pandemic when the Coalition was in Government."

“Let it be known on 1 October 2025 Qantas ceased to be the ‘Spirit of Australia’ and became the ‘Spirit of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane’.”

Dr Webster spoke with Qantaslink CEO Rachel Yangoyan this afternoon and communicated her displeasure and that of local Qantas staff and the Mildura community.

Background

While Mildura has been serviced by commercial airlines since the mid- 1970s via what began as Murray Valley Airlines, then Sunstate and Southern Australia Airlines, the operation’s later owner Australian Airlines merged with Qantas in September 1992.

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