Doorstop - Flinders Island Airport | Ministers for the Department of Infrastructure

CATHERINE KING: Well, we're here on Flinders Island, and I'm here with Rachel Summers, the Mayor of Flinders Council, with a great announcement as part of the Growing Regions Program, we're investing $2.68 million here into upgrading the lighting here at the airport. Rachel and the council came to Canberra in June last year to advocate for this really important project. We know that without it, Royal Flying Doctor services will really be compromised here in this community, being able to have that connection to the mainland, again compromised if we don't invest this money. This is all part of the Albanese Labor government's investment in our regions. And great to be here on the island making the announcement today.

JOURNALIST: So Rachel, this announcement today. What does this mean for your community?

MAYOR RACHEL SUMMERS: This announcement is of critical importance to our community. With this project, it is really about saving lives. With RFD there’s been over demand on the island, 24 hours a day, also when we have search and rescue operations, and when we have bushfires and need emergency services crews coming to the island at all hours of the day. By not having our electrical system up to date, compliant and to the current standards, we are essentially risking people's lives.

JOURNALIST: Tell me about that moment when you received the call from the Minister.

RACHEL SUMMERS: To be quite honest, it was a shocking moment. Answering the phone to Minister King was not what I was expecting, and I was absolutely thrilled when she informed us that we've been successful under this program, because it does mean so much to our community.

JOURNALIST: The Minister mentioned that you went to Canberra to speak about this project?

RACHEL SUMMERS: We did. We've had a discussion amongst Councillors, and we needed to approach our advocacy in a different way to the way our Council had done so in the past. And so we decided to take a trip to Canberra to meet the key ministers who had the most impact on our area.

JOURNALIST: And what do you think the response will be from people on the island here?

RACHEL SUMMERS: I think the community members will be absolutely thrilled that we received this funding, because it is such a critical project for our island.