Australia’s National Local Government Newspaper LGFocus.com.au
NOVEMBER 2025
Having a Mo-ment As part of Movember, a giant moustache - measuring an incredible six metres long has been installed outside the Moe Library by the Men’s Health Charity, Movember.
Images can be attributed to Latrobe City Council. Second image features: from L to R - Councillor Steph Morgan, Deputy Mayor, Councillor Sharon Gibson and Councillor Adele Pugsley. (Supplied: Latrobe City Council)
The unveiling of the monstrous Mo came as Latrobe City Council hosted the regional launch event for the Movember Campaign Moustache on Monday 3 November, from 9am to 12pm. There’s was an opportunity for community members to attend, come along and get a free hair trim, beard trim or a moustache style, listen to the DJ and enjoy the free BBQ breakfast and airbrush tattoos. The Big Mo is part of Men’s Health Charity, Movember 2025 campaign. Moe has been chosen as the regional location, not just for the play on words, but to shed a light on regional and rural men’s health. “Having the big Mo down at Moe is more than just a large Mo,” Latrobe City Council Deputy Mayor Sharon Gibson said. “It is creating the conversation on how men who live in the Country have double the health issues that their City “cousins” have. So get down and do the selfie with the big Mo and start the conversation, it might just save lives.”
Sale takes flight A plan by the Federal Government to support a successful sale of Rex Airlines (Regional Express) is receiving support among Regional Councils impacted by the airline’s voluntary receivership. Regional Express has now found a buyer after the airline was operating under voluntary administration for more than a year. In a statement, administrators confirmed they had entered into a sale and implementation deed with Air T, a US-based air services company. Rex was placed into voluntary administration in July 2024, after acquiring $50 million in debt from its largest creditor at the time, PAG. The federal government had agreed to underwrite continued operations of the passenger service until this December while administrators searched for a buyer. This week the Government announced details of the financing that it will provide to support the proposal put forward by Air T, Inc. (Air T) to the Administrators of Rex in connection with their bid to acquire Rex. The move was welcomed by Dubbo Regional Council Mayor Josh Black. “Council welcomes the announcement from the Hon Catherine King MP, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, and Hon Kristy McBain MP, Minister for Regional Development, Local Gov-
ernment and Territories of Australia regarding a new Australian Government funding program to support regional and remote airports impacted by Rex Airlines’ voluntary administration. “This initiative will allow us to apply to have the money owed to Council by Rex reimbursed, providing a pathway to recover outstanding payments. Before Rex entered voluntary administration, our Council was owed almost $660,000, so this program represents an important opportunity to restore those funds. “We also acknowledge the Australian Government’s commitment to regional aviation through its support for Air T’s acquisition of Rex. As part of this arrangement, the Government will retain security over Rex’s aircraft and simulator fleet, ensuring continuity of regional and remote routes previously serviced by Rex. “Council staff have worked diligently to manage the financial impact of Rex’s administration, and we are pleased to see this strong response from the Australian Government to safeguard regional connectivity and support local communities.” “Council remains as creditor to Rex Airlines.” The Hon Catherine King MP, Minister for In-
frastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, and Hon Kristy McBain MP, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories of Australia made the announcement in the first week of November. King said the Government “would restructure Rex’s existing debt to the Australian Government. Approximately $90 million of existing debt will be carried forward and a new commercial loan of $60 million will be provided to Rex”. “This will supplement the $50 million being contributed by Air T towards the recapitalisation of the business,” the ministers said. “In exchange for this financing and to ensure value for taxpayer money, Air T has agreed to a range of commitments aimed at preserving essential regional aviation connectivity and improving governance arrangements. This will include returning more aircraft to service and increasing the frequency of profitable flights across the Rex network. “To safeguard this public investment, the Government will retain its security over all Rex’s aircraft and simulator. This will ensure Rex’s Saab fleet cannot be sold without the Govern-
ment’s permission and will continue to service communities across regional and remote Australia.” Separately, the Government has also announced that it will establish a new program capped at $5 million for local government and regional and remote airports that supported Rex through the voluntary administration process. “This new program will mitigate financial barriers to these organisations continuing to provide essential services to their communities,” King said. “Eligibility will be based on the amount owed to the organisation by the Rex regional business when it entered voluntary administration. “This program is a separate Australian Government initiative and is not part of the negotiations with Air T for its acquisition of Rex. “This builds on the vision outlined in the Aviation White Paper for the benefits of aviation to be shared across regional and remote Australia, and the extension of Regional Airports Program in the 2024-25 Budget with an additional $40 million for two further funding rounds.”