Cairns company speaks out against government agency’s decision to outsource student travel services

A Cairns air charter business helping students travel remotely says it could be forced to close after a federal government agency awarded the contract to a UK company.

Cairns air charter company Volantair has lost a federal government contract with ABSTUDY to fly students from the Torres Strait and Cape York to Cairns, severely impacting their business. Picture: Brendan Radke

A Cairns air charter business helping students travel remotely says it could be forced to close after a federal government agency awarded the contract to a UK company.

The company has been providing charter services for First Nations students travelling between remote communities in North Queensland and boarding schools as part of the ABSTUDY program for several years.

But Volantair managing director Shaun Quigley said he found out last month that London-based company, Air Charter Service, would be taking over the flights.

Mr Quigley said the decision was unfair because there was no tender process.

“We never had the opportunity to submit a proposal; I only found out because I asked,” he said.

Volantair owner, Shaun Quigley, said he could be forced to close after a government agency awarded the contract to a UK company. Picture: Brendan Radke

“We’ve been successfully providing this service for almost five years now. I know many of these kids and their families — it’s just wrong.”

ABSTUDY is a federally funded program which has been running for 55 years, providing financial assistance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families for school supplies, travel, and sometimes school fees.

Mr Quigley said it allowed children and parents to travel between home and school during holidays and important events.

“This work has been procured through the ABSTUDY program. I have worked in the region for over 20 years in the same line of work and have an intimate knowledge of the area,” he said.

“Volantair has spent the last four years developing successful relationships with both our suppliers and our clients.”

As an “Australian-owned local business”, he said he was disappointed at the outcome.

“It’s disappointing to have work taken away from a Cairns-based business and given to a company outside of Australia,” Mr Quigley said.

“Air Charter Service lacks a local presence in North Queensland.”

About 1200 kg of cargo, consisting of fruit, vegetables and other grocery items were being unloaded in Kowanyama earlier this year. Picture: Shaun Quigley.

Mr Quigley said what “added salt to the wound” was Australian taxpayers’ funds, designed to help close the First Nations gap, were being sent offshore.

A spokeswoman for the federal government’s finance department said it had not awarded a charter contract to a UK company.

“All Australian Government Travel, including charter services for the ABSTUDY program, is managed by the Australian Government travel provider Corporate Travel Manager,” she said.

Corporate Travel Manager is a travel management company that provides services to businesses and government entities in Australia.

The spokeswoman also said CTM has no exclusive agreements with charter companies and will choose charter providers for the ABSTUDY program based on the needs of ABSTUDY travelers.

“CTM has encouraged competition through the expansion of charters available to be booked for the government, including the ABSTUDY program,” she said.

“They have also recently included an additional 12 new charter service providers to the program, including two Indigenous businesses.”

Shaun Quigley has been transporting families to and from remote areas to schools for more than four years. Picture: Shaun Quigley.

Leichhardt Federal Member Warren Entsch said the decision was “absurd”.

“We should strive for an open, transparent process for allocating contracts,” he said.

“Particularly when local businesses like Volantair, with deep ties to the community, can provide these essential services more cost-effectively and efficiently.”

According to Mr Entsch, the potential savings for taxpayers could be “significant” if the contract had remained with Volantair.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that this money should not be spent lining the pockets of ... corporate travel organisers,” he said.

St Patrick's College boarding director Katie de Carteret has been working with Volantair Air Charter services for close to four years, and says the service is has “never been anything short of remarkable”.

“Shaun always places the client at the forefront and provides a personalised service, the client is always at the centre, with care for the small details evident every time,” she said.

Ms Carteret said Mr Quigley had gone out of his way to provide client pick-ups and refreshments in the instance of delayed flights.

“(He goes) well beyond the scope of his service. Shaun Quigley is a phenomenal operator,” she said.

A spokesman for Corporate Travel Management, which manages the ABSTUDY charter service contract, refused to comment.

Originally published as Cairns company speaks out against government agency’s decision to outsource student travel services