Rex: councillor made ‘xenophobic remarks’

Regional Express airline (Rex) has accused Cr Deborah Novak of making “xenophobic remarks” in its media release acknowledging that Page MP Kevin Hogan’s intervention had played a major part in the airline resuming its Grafton service.

Rex’s media release states: “Rex notified the Clarence Valley Council of the withdrawal of services on June 4, 2020, after a councillor made pejorative and offensive remarks at an open council meeting regarding Rex.

“This councillor subsequently made further xenophobic remarks concerning Rex and its leadership in the press.

“Upon the intervention of the Member for Page, Mr Kevin Hogan, Rex accepted the apologies of the council and accepted Mr Hogan’s assurance that the remarks of the said councillor were condemned by the vast majority of the community.

“Rex will operate return services three days a week, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday [commencing August 17].”

The unsubstantiated allegation was repeated in an NBN News report, in which the reporter stated: “It’s been 34 days since REX ceased its flights to the regional city [Grafton].

“The airline withdrew its service after offensive remarks were made at an open council meeting; and the same councillor made xenophobic remarks in the media.

“Travel agent ‘Cory Betalli’ said he had to lay off staff when REX initially pulled the pin but he’s thankful for today’s news.”

For her part, however, Cr Novak is likely to take a pragmatic position, rather than going on the attack.

When asked if she would demand a retraction, she said, “Not at this stage.”

“I haven’t contacted Rex at this stage,” she said on Monday morning (before the paper’s editorial deadline).

“I’m just debating whether or not it’s better to ignore it at the end of the day and turn this into a positive.

“This matter has highlighted that we need to look at our airport business plan.

“We need to be grateful to Kevin Hoganfor getting Rex to honour the contract they signed in March.

“That contract finishes in December [previously September 30], so the council has five months to work on the airport’s business plan.”

The council’s AIRPORTS Asset Management Plan is available for download on CVC’s website on the ‘Reports, Plans & Documents’ page.

On June 7, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport Michael McCormack announced that “the government will work with industry to ensure Australians can access domestic air travel, as COVID-19 restrictions are relaxed”.

This involved “extending the Regional Airline Network Support (RANS) program from 30 September to 31 December 2020, to ensure regional communities continue to receive essential air services”.

“The government will continue to cover operating shortfalls for a limited number of services on regional routes flown prior to the COVID-19 crisis,” Mr McCormack said in his media release.

Rex had not responded to the Independent’senquiry before its noon-Monday deadline.

The Independent emailed the following question (as preferred by Rex) at 10am on Friday August 7 asking; “Could you please provide the exact words that constituted the alleged xenophobic remarks, to whom they were made and when [and where] they were made?”

The Independent received confirmation at 10.47am: “Your enquiry has been forwarded to the relevant personnel for consideration.”

No response was received during the course of Monday morning, despite making several phone calls (two messages left) and sending an email.