Young Jonathan: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeYoung Jonathan: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 08 September 2015. Volume:708;Page:6307. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]12.JONATHAN YOUNG (National—New Plymouth) to the Minister of Transport: What recent reports has he seen on increased competition in the aviation industry that supports regional New Zealand?Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Minister of Transport): Last week Jetstar launched its new regional destinations in New Zealand. That will result in more jobs—about 100 more—more choice and competition and lower fares from December in Nelson and Napier from February in New Plymouth and Palmerston North—[Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! I cannot hear the answer because of the level of interjection coming from my immediate left. Would the Minister please continue.Hon SIMON BRIDGES: As I was saying they are from Nelson Napier New Plymouth and Palmerston North fundamentally growing the number of people connecting for work tourism and also with their families. What is not to like?Jonathan Young: How will Jetstar’s new regional air services benefit consumers?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: I am glad you asked. There is clearly a lot of interest. Consumers are the big winners in Jetstar’s move into regional air services which has triggered a price war—[Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! Iain Lees-Galloway—if he wants to leave the Chamber I can make it easy for him. He is to cease this barracking. There is indeed ministerial responsibility for this issue.Hon SIMON BRIDGES: I will start that again. Consumers are the big winners from Jetstar’s move into regional air services which has triggered a price war on some regional routes. As we have seen in recent years competition between Air New Zealand and Jetstar has ensured that passengers travelling on main trunk routes have had access to low fares and more choice. So Jetstar’s move to offer regional services will bring these same benefits to regional communities throughout New Zealand. More generally—Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have now heard enough of the answer.Sue Moroney: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. You ruled that there was ministerial responsibility. Is the Minister also responsible for Hamilton missing out on Jetstar?Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member will resume her seat.Jonathan Young: How will greater competition in regional air services benefit regional New Zealand?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: It is great to see increased air competition in some of our key regional centres—[Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! I gave a fair warning to Iain Lees-Galloway. He continues to interject and he will now leave the Chamber.Iain Lees-Gallowaywithdrew from the Chamber.Mr SPEAKER: I invite the Minister to continue his answer.Hon SIMON BRIDGES: Transport linkages are crucial to regional development and Jetstar’s new air links will help boost business and tourism traffic into regions like Taranaki Hawke’s Bay Nelson and Manawatū-Whanganui. The new services will also provide convenient connections to international services. I take the member’s point—actually it is not just Jetstar; it is many smaller players in the West Coast Kaitāia and other areas providing an increasingly vibrant aviation scene in New Zealand.