i wrote a letter to alannah's office enquiring when the routes are up for review, here was the response, pretty vague...
SKYWEST NETWORK
The Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, Hon Alannah MacTiernan MLA, has asked me to thank you for your correspondence of 13 May 2004 regarding the Skywest network, and to reply on her behalf.
In 2002, in the wake of the collapse of Ansett, the Government provided Skywest with a two-year licence to operate non-jet air services between Perth and a number of key regional centres. The Government recently commissioned an independent review of the intrastate non-jet routes in consultation with the WA aviation industry and regional communities to determine what action should be taken in the longer term.
The Government has accepted the review’s findings that there is insufficient demand to introduce full competition into the non-jet air routes in WA. On that basis, it has been decided to undertake a competitive tender process to select airlines to commence services when Skywest’s current licence expires. It is believed that this represents the best model to ensure that regional communities continue to receive a viable and efficient air service that meets their needs.
Yours sincerely
Signed on 4 June 2004
ROB GILES
CHIEF OF STAFF