Regional aviators to converge on Canberra

Leaders of the regional aviation industry say the carbon tax unfairly targets their businesses. (Seth Jaworski)

Leaders from the regional aviation industry will converge on Canberra on Monday for what is likely to be a lively summit with government ministers.

Many in regional aviation have become increasingly critical of government policies, particularly the carbon tax, which they say unfairly targets an industry that has played a key role in supporting the mining boom.

“This is a rare opportunity for the regional aviation industry to speak directly to our elected representatives en masse,” said Paul Tyrrell, CEO of the Regional Aviation Association of Australia, which is sponsoring the summit. “Our parliamentarians will hear that regional aviation is essential national transport infrastructure and must be understood in the same way as roads and sea-ports.”

More than 100 people are expected to attend the summit, Tyrrell said. Among those scheduled to address the conference are Transport Minister Anthony Albanese, Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson and Shadow Transport Minister Warren Truss.