Showing posts with label Grafton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Grafton. Show all posts

Sunday 22 October 2023

THOMAS MAYO: Although the Voice referendum was lost, and despite the racist vitriol it unleashed, the movement for Indigenous rights and recognition has grown

 

The Saturday Paper, October 21 – 27, 2023, No. 472:


Although the Voice referendum was lost, and despite the racist vitriol it unleashed, the movement for Indigenous rights and recognition has grown. By Thomas Mayo.



Analysis: The movement that follows the Voice


As a parent of five, I am acutely aware of the way in which our children absorb everything – conversations, body language, snippets of the news and the bits and pieces they share with friends at school. We try our best to protect them from the harsh realities of the world until we think they are ready. They might seem oblivious to it all, but they know more than they tell, as if they are reciprocating our care.


Though I knew this of our children, I wasn’t prepared for my 12-year-old son’s reaction to the referendum loss on Saturday. When I called my wife soon after the loss became official, to see how they were, she told me he had cried. He went to bed early, barely consolable.


The next day, when I checked in on them, she told me William was okay. She remarked on how he had mentioned several times that he felt calm that morning, as if the feeling were strange to him. We came to realise he had been feeling the weight of the referendum on his little shoulders. For the first time since the loss, I cried too.


The Indigenous leadership of the “Yes” campaign called for a week of silence that ends today. There was a need for contemplation after an intense campaign. Anyone who put up their head for “Yes” was brutalised. We were labelled communists, greedy elites, puppets of the United Nations and promoters of a racially divided Australia. None of this is true.


The racist vitriol we felt was at a level not seen for decades in Australia. Indigenous advocates for the Voice could not speak out about the abuse without some sections of the media, whose audiences we needed to persuade, falsely claiming that we were calling all “No” voters racist. Even if only in the way the headlines were worded.


Respected Elder and lifelong champion for Indigenous peoples Marcia Langton probably experienced the worst of this. The stories with negative headlines exploded and continued for more than a week because she dared to mention the race-baiting of the “No” campaign.


The “No” side, on the other hand, was barely scrutinised. When their figureheads claimed racism against them, some journalists showed sympathy and the “Yes” campaign was scapegoated. When leading spokespeople for the “No” campaign were racist beyond reasonable denial, their leaders doubled down defiantly. Most of the media’s focus quickly moved on. The abhorrent “No” campaign cartoon, depicting me in a racist trope and printed in The Australian Financial Review, is one example of many.


In the week of silence, I have had time to reflect on last Saturday’s outcome. I have concluded Indigenous peoples were correct to take the invitation in the Uluru Statement from the Heart to the Australian people. We were not wrong to ask them to recognise us through a Voice.


For a people with inherent rights but who are a minority spread across this vast continent – with a parliament that will continue to make laws and policies about us – it is inevitable that we will need to establish a national representative body to pursue justice. We need to be organised.


Delaying the referendum was never an option, not even when the polls were going south. Had we convinced the government to postpone the referendum, we would still be wondering what could have been, especially if the gaps continue to widen. We had a responsibility to try now, to use the rare opportunity we had, in the interests of our children. At least now we know where we stand.


While the outcome was disappointing, in all my years of advocacy for Indigenous rights, I have never felt such levels of solidarity.


As a leader of the campaign, I accept that, although we tried our best, we failed. I agree there were aspects of the “Yes” campaign that could have been better and I ponder what else I could have done. These thoughts hurt, like an aching emptiness in my chest.


An honest assessment compels me to mention Opposition Leader Peter Dutton as well. Dutton has shown he is bereft of the qualities held by the Indigenous leaders I have worked with. He is well short of the calibre of his opposite, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.


While Albanese listened to Indigenous peoples respectfully, Dutton ignored us when in power. When Albanese negotiated the constitutional alteration with the Referendum Working Group, he did so in good faith, while Dutton was duplicitous, two-faced, deceitful.


At the next federal election, the record will show the prime minister had a go. He followed through with his pre-election promise to hold a referendum in this term of parliament. He kept his word, even when the going got tough, whereas Dutton has already reneged on his promise to hold another referendum should the first one to fail to pass.


It is noteworthy, because it exposes that this is all politics on his part. If he ever becomes prime minister, it is an indication that he places no value in speaking with Indigenous people before making decisions about them. His promise of a second referendum was decided without consulting Indigenous leaders, not even his own spokesperson on Indigenous affairs.


None of this is bitterness on my part, just truth. Peter Dutton chose politics over outcomes. His career came before fairness. He sought victory at any cost.


When I go home on Sunday – just my 25th day in Darwin this year, having worked almost every day since May 21, 2022 – I can proudly tell my son that though the referendum failed, the movement for Indigenous rights and recognition has grown.


In 2017, we were almost 4 per cent of the population calling for Voice, Treaty and Truth-Telling. As of Saturday, we are nearly 40 per cent, walking together. Almost seven million Australians voted “Yes”. Both major parties would kill for a first preference vote like that.


Probably the most important analysis from the referendum was that polling booths in predominantly Indigenous communities across the entirety of the country overwhelmingly voted “Yes”. We have thoroughly established that this is fact: a great majority of Indigenous people support constitutional recognition through a Voice to Parliament. We seek self-determination over who speaks for us. Claims otherwise are an incontrovertible lie.


To my fellow Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, I say we continue our push for our common goals. Don’t be silenced. Be louder, prouder and more defiant. Of course, you will be. The survival of our culture and our babies depends on it.


To the parents I met so many times, who turned up for their first doorknock with their little ones in tow, their “Yes” shirts worn proudly, sunscreen smeared on their faces: keep having those conversations with your neighbours at every opportunity. Keep turning up.


To the small number of people who registered to attend the town hall in Yamba and Grafton, and the hundreds more who turned up without registering, and who expressed their gratitude at how the forum had brought the community together: stay committed to this unselfish cause. In regional communities across the country, the town hall attendances were magnificent. Keep turning up.


To the random members of the public who have hugged me, to the beautiful Elders who treated me like a son, to the fellow union members who organised their communities, not just their places of work, maintain the love for what makes this country unique – more than 60,000 years of continuous heritage and culture.


While the outcome was disappointing, in all my years of advocacy for Indigenous rights, I have never felt such levels of solidarity.


Across the country, lifelong friendships have been made. I have new Aunties and Uncles, like the strong Aboriginal women at Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation in Mount Druitt, who themselves have formed bonds with the local ethnic communities as they campaigned for “Yes”. I love you, Aunties.


In this campaign we saw Liberals and Nationals give speeches alongside Labor and the Greens. We saw corporate chief executives leafleting with union officials. All denominations have prayed together. The “Yes” rallies, more than 200,000 people strong, brought colour, joy and diversity to the streets, in unity with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.


Late this week, ending the week of silence, an official statement from Indigenous leaders was made public. In summary: we continue our calls for our voices to be heard, for reform and for justice, and we need your ongoing support.


This is the task ahead. I say to all the hundreds of thousands of people I have spoken with over the past six years, the many friends I have made on this journey: we were always on the right side of history. Young Australians voted “Yes” with us. Imagine what we can achieve if the almost seven million Australians who voted “Yes” continue to have conversations with their neighbours, meeting “No” voters with an understanding that they may have voted “No” because of the lies they were told. In time, we will turn the “Nos” into “Yeses”.


Let us talk of our strengths while addressing our weaknesses. Let us believe in ourselves, our communities and our country, rather than looking over our shoulders at the shadows Peter Dutton has thrown across Australian politics. Let us call on the parliament to shine a light on those shadows, those deathly shadows, lest they continue to undermine our democracy. Ask yourself, which group will be targeted next?


When I was writing my first book about the Uluru Statement from the Heart, published in 2019, my son was just eight years old. He asked me what the title of the book would be. When I asked him what he would call it, he proceeded to do a series of armpit farts. We both laughed. Then I told him I would call it Finding the Heart of the Nation. He asked me, “Where is the heart of the nation?”


I put my laptop down beside me on the couch. I pulled him close. I put my hand on his chest, and I said, “The heart of the nation is here.”


The heart of the nation is still here. It always was and it always will be, waiting to be recognised by our fellow Australians. Whether you voted “Yes” or “No”, I say to you with humility and respect, open your hearts and your minds henceforth. The truth should be unifying, not divisive.


This article was first published in the print edition of The Saturday Paper on October 21, 2023 as "After the vote".


Thomas Mayo is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander man, assistant national secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia and author of six books, including Dear Son – Letters and reflections from First Nations fathers and sons and the bestselling children’s book Finding Our Heart.


October 21, 2023



Thursday 5 October 2023

The saying ‘start as you mean to go on’ has acquired a darker meaning under the new Clarence Valley Council Mayor


Clarence Valley Council Ordinary Monthly Meeting 
26 September 2023
Mayor Peter Johnstone in the Chair


 

The first order of business at the Clarence Valley Council Ordinary Monthly Meeting of 26 September 2023 was the mid-term election of a mayor.


So that quite sensibly, if there was a change as to which councillor held the office, the new mayor would chair the remainder of the monthly meeting.


Thus twenty-one minutes into the meeting by a margin of one vote Cr. Peter Johnstone became the new mayor. This was followed by election of the Deputy Mayor, Cr. Jeff Smith.


After these votes the meeting immediately became interesting.


It seems unbeknownst to the general public that morning as Cr. Johnstone, Mayor Johnstone had sent a notice to the other eight councillors that he intended to make a notice of motion rejecting the tender for Regional Aquatic Facility (Grafton Pool Redevelopment).


So when he as Chair requested that Item ITEM 07.23.184 RFT22/41 be brought forward to be considered as the first item of business, he appeared to do so on the pretext that there were a number of residents & ratepayers in the visitors seats who were there to hear council’s decision concerning this tender. A tender which council officers had formerly recommended be accepted as set out in the 26 September Business Paper.


Cr. Day called the item and Mayor Johnstone requested Day to put forward “his motion” which called for rejection of the tender for the Grafton Pool Redevelopment.


The Day motion was as follows:


That Council as Crown Land Manager of Grafton Westward and General Douglas MacArthur Park Reserve

(R540035):

1. Decline to accept the tender offers for RFT22/41 Regional Aquatic Facility (Grafton Olympic Pool) as

the tenders received were higher than anticipated.

2. Revise the Aquatic Centre project to begin with:

a. replacement of the 50m pool (stage 2),

b. demolition of the existing dive pool and 50m pool and importing fill as required to make the

ground flat,

c. the completion of the other works for which grant funding has already been received,

d. and any other matters that will need to be completed to ensure the operation of the new 50m

pool.

3. Defer commencement of the remainder of the project until after the election of the next council.

4. Prepare a report for the October Ordinary Council Meeting setting out the expected timescale and

recommendations for the completion of the project as set out in item 2.

5. Receive a report at each subsequent Ordinary Council Meeting on the progress of the project until

completion.


In the middle of reading of the motion there was some interjection from the gallery at the point where further consideration of full redevelopment of the site was to be deferred until after the next local government election in September 2024, with no direction to seek another tender for work in the interim set out in Point 2. 


Understandable, given the gallery was peopled by around 40 residents/ratepayers who mostly either firmly supported the Regional Aquatic Facility, had made deputations and/or organised a community petition seeking a positive council decision concerning redevelopment of the community pool site. 


Johnstone barked out “Order” in a best parade ground voice, followed by a somewhat inaudible sentence. Some minutes later he made a second request that the audience “keep silent please”.


After reading of the motion was completed Cr. Novak appeared to notice that the wording of Cr. Day’s motion closely resembled the notice of motion sent out that morning by Johnson and sought confirmation of this fact. Johnson confirmed it was indeed “the same motion” he had sent out.


Cr. Toms then fairly efficiently dissected what was essentially the Mayor’s motion and Johnstone refused to answer a question put to him by this councillor.


Cr. Pickering also called the Mayor out as to the late timing of the motion, but it was Cr. Whaites who called a spade a spade when she asked Johnstone did he wait to introduce the motion at this time because he anticipated using the mayoral casting vote “to not do what our community wants – yes or no”.


Johnstone refused to answer, ending the exchange with Whaites on the words “when the mayor’s speaking you will not speak”. Audible laughter could be heard from the gallery at that point.


Cr. Toms continued to question Johnstone’s understanding of the role of mayor once Council in the Chamber had already made a lawful decision to proceed with the full redevelopment of the Grafton Pool site.


As the formal debate of the motion played out Johnstone reminded the gallery that he could order its members be removed. Given the mild nature and short duration of gallery interjections during this monthly meeting Johnstone’s attitude was somewhat puzzling.


Before it came time to vote on what by then every councillor was accepting as being Johnstone’s motion not Day’s, the motion was called “a farce, a joke, and it’s making a mockery of the entire process” by one councillor andit’s slow-minded and it’s short-sighted” by another councillor.


At times the ongoing debate became rather tense but remained essentially civil, nevertheless Johnstone accused Cr. Novak of something like an “act of disorder”. Again quiet laughter could be heard from the gallery.


A meeting recess was called which went on for about 5 minutes. After which the Mayor effectively gagged further debate, with the exception of himself. He spoke to his own slyly delivered motion.


In the end Mayor Johnstone’s motion was voted down five votes to three – only Johnstone, Day And Clancy supporting that motion to reject the tender.


Cr. Pickering having earlier foreshadowed the original council officers motion this was then put as follows:


COUNCIL RESOLUTION - 07.23.184

Pickering/Novak


OFFICER RECOMMENDATION


That Council, as Crown Land Manager of Grafton Westward and General Douglas MacArthur Park

Reserve (R540035):

1. accept the tender from Hines Construction Pty Ltd for RFT22/41 Regional Aquatic Facility (Grafton Pool Redevelopment) at a cost of $29,141,586 (GST Inclusive) to be funded in accordance with the funding strategy – Attachment B.

2. accept the schedule of rates submitted from Hines Construction Pty Ltd for the earthworks, total

cost to be calculated based on actual quantities as determined by a geotechnical engineer during the project works.

3. delegate authority to the General Manager to approve appropriately deemed variations to the Contract and those variations be reported to Council within the Quarterly Budget Review Statement (QBRS) once the Contract is finalised.


Voting recorded that motion carried as follows:

For - Johnstone, Novak, Pickering, Smith, Tiley, Toms, Whaites

Against - Clancy, Day.


One can be forgiven for suspecting that Clarence Valley Council may have chosen the wrong person to lead it for the next 12 months.



Wednesday 8 March 2023

At 5 am - 6 am, 8 March 2023 (AEDT) this morning both Lismore and Grafton air quality monitoring stations were not reporting data – along with three other regions.

 


The NSW Government monitors air quality across the state.


In the Northern River region this monitoring in theory encompasses the northern part of the North Coast planning region from the NSW-Qld border region down to the Clarence Valley.


Air quality in Northern NSW is generally considered to be good.


However there are only two permanent official air quality monitoring stations in the Northern Rivers region, at Grafton and Lismore.


These stations principally monitor fine particles in the air on an hourly basis and publish the hourly average at

Lismore: https://www.airquality.nsw.gov.au/northern-rivers/lismore

and

Grafton: https://www.airquality.nsw.gov.au/northern-rivers/grafton.


Principally the monitoring is of:


PM2.5 are fine particles in air with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less. PM itself is short for 'particulate matter', another term for particles. They are generated by combustion processes from sources such as vegetation fires, motor vehicles and industrial activities. PM2.5 is reported in unit of microgram per cubic meter (µg/m3).


These small particles can get deep into the lungs and be absorbed into the blood stream. Short term impacts include difficulty in breathing and worsening of asthma or chronic bronchitis symptoms. They can also cause irritation of eyes, nose and throat.


PM2.5 Ratings


PM10 are particles in air with a diameter of 10 micrometres or less. PM itself is short for 'particulate matter', another term for particles. They can include dust or sea salt, as well as smaller particles generated from combustion processes such as vegetation fires, motor vehicles and industrial sources. PM10 is reported in unit of microgram per cubic meter (µg/m3).


These particles can pass into the lungs. Short term impacts include difficulty in breathing and worsening of asthma or chronic bronchitis symptoms. They can also cause irritation of eyes, nose and throat.


PM10 Ratings

However, it is somewhat disconcerting to notice that in 2023 the Lismore station in particular is experiencing gaps in the hourly record due to “Station not reporting data”.


Given warnings concerning the possible risk of grassfires across the state from September-October 2023 onwards, I'm sure it would be appreciated by many in Northern NSW if any technical/performance problems are corrected before the next fire season.



Tuesday 31 May 2022

Grafton Midday Rotary Book Sale 8.30am Friday 3 to 6pm Saturday 4 June 2022 at Criterion Theatre


 

Clarence Valley Independent, 25 May 2022:



Grafton Midday Rotary is staging the next Book Sale June 3-4, fittingly, at the Criterion Theatre.

Book Sale coordinator, Grafton Midday Rotarian Peter Robinson said, “The book sale will run from Friday 8.30am to 6pm and Saturday 8am to 1pm.”

We are planning a giant book sale! We were deluged with lots of new books during the Covid book sale suspensions, so there will be lots of opportunities to discover that book which is something special. And fresh stock will be added throughout the sale so there will be good chances to pick up books of interest over the two-day sale.”

Prices have not changed: still $10 a shopping bag, and children’s books are Free.”

With find that children simply love to go through the children’s section. They are often inspired to become book lovers and avid readers.”

With Covid 19 in mind, masks are encouraged, especially if people feel safer that way, but are not compulsory.”

A wet winter is coming up, so the book sale is a great time for book lovers, young and old, to stock up on some relatively new but preloved books as well as some well-worn tomes.”

The Grafton Midday Rotary book sale aims to promote literacy and to raise funds to support the local community.


Wednesday 13 October 2021

650 South Grafton Primary School children along with their teachers and support staff enter their fifth day of self-isolation as COVID-19 infection grows in the school community


"all will be given to those who strive"
approximate translation 

At 9am on Tuesday 5 October 2021 around 650 children from Kindergarten to Year 6, along with at least 31 teachers and numerous support staff, commenced Term 4 at the 154 year old split campus South Grafton Public School, under Level 3 (regional schools) COVID-19 settings.



At around 11am that same day, almost casually, NSW Health announced that 4 cases of locally acquired COVID-19 infection had been discovered in the Clarence Valley local government area. Thus ending its resident population's community transmission free status which began on or about 29 March 2020.


By Saturday 9 October the primary school was abruptly closed for contact tracing and cleaning when it was discovered that one member of the school community had tested positive for COVID-19.


Based on NSW Health advice, all staff and students were told to self-isolate until further notice and to be tested if they developed symptoms of viral infection.


On Monday 11 October when the NSW Government opened up the state in Stage 1 of its policy of easing COVID-19 public health order restrictions and allowing the population increased mobility, South Grafton Public School staff and the parents of those 650 students waited to get the all clear to return to school.


It was also on that Monday that the total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 community transmission in the Clarence Valley – specifically in Grafton postcode 2460 – had reached 14 cases over the space of the 6 days since the Delta Variant Outbreak finally reached the local government area.


On Tuesday 12 October 2021 the primary school administration was informed that additional COVID-19 cases had been confirmed within the school community and further contact tracing and cleaning needed to be undertaken, so the school remained closed.


Regretfully, to be continued......


Friday 8 October 2021

Perrottet, Toole & Hazzard appear determined to keep Clarence Valley communities in almost Stygian darkness when it comes to their COVID-19 status


It has taken an instore notice posted at Coles South Grafton to make Clarence Valley residents aware that what appear to be locally acquired Covid-19 infected individual/s have been moving freely about the Grafton area since at least 27 September 2021.


It wasn't until almost 3 hours after the Coles instore notice (below) was shared on Twitter that 3 Grafton venues of concern were actually named by @NNSWLHD.


Just not good enough, NSW Health!



DATA NSW6 October 2021:


Northern NSW Local Health District, Positive COVID-19 Infections for Post Code 2460, Grafton & environs, Clarence Valley, NE NSW, as of 6 October 2021


Positive COVID-19 infection notification numbers are

#66390

#66534

#66595

#66598


https://twitter.com/lori_australia/status/1446014834223435780/photo/1







Thursday 3 June 2021

Have you seen this clown? If so contact Grafton Police

 

Not the first time this Hudsons Circus clown has gone missing.
It anonymously turned up at The Junktion, Bathuurst  in 2020.
IMAGE: Western Advocate, 2 March 2020


The Daily Telegraph, 2 June 2021:


Grafton has once again earned itself a spot in the coveted S--t Towns of Australia Power Rankings after someone stole a clown.


Yes, you read that correctly.


Last week visiting attraction Hudsons Circus raised the alarm that one of their promotional materials had been stolen.


One of our 5m tall inflatable promo clowns and air blower has gone missing from Summerland Way, Grafton, overnight. The power lead going to the air blower has been cut off,” they wrote on their Facebook page.


A police report has been made. If you have any information regarding this, please call Grafton police station or contact Policelink and send us a message.” News of the stolen clown soon reached the creators of Facebook page Sh*t Towns of Australia, who placed Grafton in the 10th spot in the latest top 10 Power Rankings list, and described the incident as “Gronks steal 5m inflatable clown from circus”.


Other towns to share the honour include Tennant Creek, NT, for a bloke getting his “head stuck under a security gate while trying to break into a bottle-o” and Mildura, Victoria, for a “woman charged with stealing 26 BBQ chickens”. The page, which has more than 50,000 followers, is well known for its savage, yet tongue-in-cheek articles describing various towns across Australia. In 2019 Grafton was pitted against Lismore, but ultimately lost the vote.


Thursday 4 March 2021

REX Regional Express Airlines walks away from its Clarence Valley airline route for a second time, yet again trying to blame others for its decision



Rex will stand by all regional communities that have stood by Rex during this global and national crisis” [Rex Express Holdings Deputy Chairman and former Nationals MP for Hume, the Hon John Sharp AM, company media release, 29 April 2020]


Stirring words in that quote at the top of this post, however the reality was somewhat different for two regional communities on the NSW North Coast - Clarence Valley and Lismore City.


Lismore Airport services a city and population on the banks of the Wilsons River and is a gateway for both business travel and holidaymakers.


While Grafton Airport in the Clarence Valley is predominately used by state authorities and local government.


Having received financial assistance from Clarence Valley Council as well as nearly $24 million from the federal government’s $198 million Regional Airline Network Support Program (RANS), $53.9 million from the $100 million COVID-19 Regional Airlines Funding Assistance Program (RAFA), Jobkeeper workforce wage subsidies, and  unspecified funding through Australian Airline Financial Relief Package (AAFRP), Regional Express Airlines (REX) suddenly decided to cease flights into Grafton Airport on 3 July 2020.


Apparently it had decided it wished to expand its presence on other routes where it could compete with a pandemic-weakened Qantas Airlines.


It reversed its decision to abandon Grafton Airport in August 2020 – promising to operate return services three days a week, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday on a Sydney-Grafton Lismore route commencing 17 August 2020


Coincidentally REX's re-entry followed on the heels of negative publicity and media reports that Clarence Valley Council had begun looking for another airline to take its place.


Now seven months after its return, the predominately foreign-owned REX is withdrawing from its Sydney-Grafton-Lismore route as of 23 March 2021.


This time all but admitting that having milked the federal government for as much funding as it could, it was again abandoning both Grafton and Lismore just days ahead of the cessation of the emergency regional airline funding streams it had previously accessed.


In a media release dated 22 February 2021 REX stated:


Rex will, from April, commence new services to ports where Virgin Australia has retreated, leaving Qantas as the sole or dominant operator. The new services are from Sydney to:

Coffs Harbour (330,000 passengers pre-COVID)

Port Macquarie (190,000 passengers pre-COVID)

and will be available for sale from tomorrow.”


Other routes under active consideration where Qantas is the sole or dominant carrier include:

Sydney - Tamworth (175,000 passengers pre-COVID),

Perth - Geraldton (110,000 passengers pre-COVID),

Melbourne - Devonport (146,000 passengers pre-COVID), and

Sydney - Canberra (930,000 passengers pre-COVID).”


We will be launching services to these cities once a partnership agreement is concluded with the local councils or airport owners.”


Our plans to commence domestic jet services on the Sydney-Melbourne route on 1 March are still firm barring further border closures.”


In another media release dated 1 March 2021 REX stated:


Adelaide and the Gold Coast as they have been chosen by Rex to receive domestic jet services just in time for the Easter rush.


Rex today announces that it will commence new services between Melbourne and Adelaide from 31 March, whilst the Gold Coast will receive services from Melbourne commencing 29 March and from Sydney commencing 1 April 2021…..


I wish to thank both Adelaide Airport and the Gold Coast Airport who have worked tirelessly with us to make this happen in such a short time frame.”


One has to wonder how long the honeymoon will last for Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie and Gold Coast airports and, whether airport managements realise just how many times REX will seek financial concessions from local government to keep flying these routes.


In the Clarence Valley the honeymoon is long over and personally I'm hoping we have finally seen the last of REX.


BACKGROUND


According to Regional Express Airline’s 2019-20 Annual Report its largest shareholders are:


MR KIM HAI LIM with18,998,346 fully paid ordinary shares – 17.25% of total shares issued

BNP PARIBAS NOMINEES PTY LTD with 16,234,094 fully paid ordinary shares – 14.74% of total shares issued

THIAN SOO LEE with 7,722,181 fully paid ordinary shares – 7.01% of total shares issued

JOO CHYE CHUA with 7,454,362 fully paid ordinary shares – 6.77% of total shares issued

MING YEW SEE TOH & HUI ING TJOA with 7,454,362 fully paid ordinary shares – 6.77% of total shares issued

MS HUI LING TJOA with 5,755,513 fully paid ordinary shares – 5.22% of total shares issues.