The Hon. Bridget McKenzie, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Senator for Victoria; The Hon. Anne Webster, Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Regional Communications, Local Government and The Territories and Federal Nationals Member for Mallee, Joint Media Release, 1 October 2025

Qantas’ decision to shut its crew bases in Mildura, Canberra and Hobart is another blow to regional Australia, centralising jobs to capital cities and ripping skills and spending out of local communities.

Around 70 pilots and cabin crew are affected across the three bases, including about eight staff in Mildura.

Qantas says flights won’t be cut and there will be no job losses, but that’s cold comfort to families now facing long commutes or who are being forced to move to keep their jobs, the MPs said.

The base closures come on top of other recent service withdrawals in the regions, including QantasLink shutting its Tamworth maintenance facility in 2024.

Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Senator Bridget McKenzie said once again regional Australia bears the brunt of corporate centralisation and job losses.

“I feel for the 70 staff who will now face the very difficult choice of keeping their job or lose the benefits of a short commute, cheaper housing and the lower cost of living that comes with making a life in the regions.”

The Albanese Government had been weak on regional aviation since coming to Government, she said.

Two regional airlines have collapsed, regional bases are now closing, and the future of Rex Airlines remains uncertain after nearly 18 months of inaction.

“The words of the Minister (Catherine King) today are of cold comfort to the families affected by this decision who now have to make the impossible choice between keeping their job or their regional community,” Senator McKenzie said.

Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Regional Communications, Local Government and The Territories and Federal Nationals Member for Mallee, Dr Anne Webster, said:

“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’.”

“It’s not just about jobs lost in a place like Mildura – it is whole families leaving town,” Dr Webster said.

Mildura is the largest city in the federal electorate of Mallee and Mildura airport, the largest in regional Victoria.

“The ripple effects hit schools, community sport, and small businesses,” Dr Webster said.

“Qantas hasn’t learnt the lessons of the past three years and it’s clearly not listening to staff. Every job lost is lost economic activity in our regional communities.”

Dr Webster said Qantas had whittled down the Mildura workforce over a period of years so effective rosters could not be filled.

“This is a premeditated Qantas-engineered closure. They are going through the motions. Once again consultation means nothing.”

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