Thank you Mr. Speaker,

I’d like to take this opportunity to speak about air and sea connectivity in my Electorate of Solomon. 

Darwin is Australia’s gateway to South-East Asia, and is playing an increasingly critical role in Australia’s engagement with the region and beyond.

Which is why I’m so disappointed in the increasing cuts by airlines to flights to and from Darwin, both within Australia and internationally.

Territorians are paying up to $3,000 one-way with Qantas from Darwin to Sydney.

Jetstar has cut its wildly popular Darwin-Singapore route, seriously curtailing the ability of Territorians to access Asia and Europe.

It’s outrageous and needs to be looked at.

We’ve seen in recent weeks Indonesian President Joko Widodo flag the importance of a Kupang-Dili-Darwin route, which is something I discussed with the Indonesian Government last month when visiting with the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, the Trade Minister, and the Minister for Industry.

This underlines the essential role that Darwin has to play in our engagement with our South-East Asian neighbours, and it’s critical that we improve it wherever we can.

Our neighbours understand the importance of connectivity within our region.

We must make the most of the opportunities that Darwin is uniquely placed to provide for all Australians, and into the Indo-Pacific.