The vast majority of those in Canberra have no idea of the hardships faced by rural Aussies often totally reliant upon very expensive GA and low capacity air services.
The days of the "commuter airline" in under 5,700 kg aircraft are virtually over, killed off by far better roads than 50 years ago, better vehicles more suited to long distance travel, hub and spoke airline operations between major centers, high aircraft operating costs and a concerted effort by CASA to kill off GA.