Pretty astonishing cognitive disconnect of the councillor quoted in the article. The council raises rates by a few hundred per turn, Rex passes on the charges to customers and gets accused of bullying.
King Island should realise that its airport need not operate at a profit since it is an essential piece of infrastructure. A good airport is like a good freeway/railroad/harbour: .costly until you see what happens without it.
Having a “user pays” scheme on an island where everyone is a user. Genius.
The council would do better to direct its formidable brain power to bringing King Island cream back from extinction.