Remote Air Service Subsidy Scheme

The Remote Air Service Subsidy (RASS) Scheme's objective is to provide communities in remote and isolated areas of Australia with improved access through a regular weekly air transport service for the carriage of passengers and goods (e.g. educational materials, medicines, fresh foods and other urgent supplies). Because of the distances involved and the fact that road access to many of these communities is often cut for several months during the wet season, a regular air service might offer the only reliable means of transport.

Air operators are selected and engaged through a competitive tender process, for a fixed term under an agreement with the Australian Government. The RASS subsidy is paid directly to the air operator. Air operators providing air services under the RASS Scheme are required to service specified RASS communities on scheduled weekly services. Australia Post has responsibility for the delivery of mail and has separate contracts with several RASS air operators for this purpose.

To gain admission to the RASS Scheme, communities must meet certain eligibility criteria. The capacity to admit communities is limited by the Scheme's budget in any year. To be considered for inclusion on the RASS Scheme, a community must meet two fundamental requirements:

• there must be a demonstrated need for weekly air service; and
• the community must be sufficiently remote in terms of surface travel time to a population centre or neighbouring community receiving a weekly transport service

Prospective air operators and communities may obtain a copy of relevant criteria, or discuss any aspects of the RASS scheme, by contacting the Department on (02) 6274 6889.

Applications should be sent to:

Manager
Regional Economies Section
Regional Policy Branch
Regional Services Division
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government
GPO Box 594
Canberra ACT 2601
Fax (02) 6274 8116
rass@infrastructure.gov.au