What the inquiry, even though I feel it is a bit of a waste of time and money, may find, is that a high % of an airline's cost is airport and screening fees. The same councils that moan about high airfares are happy to have high airport charges, some of the revenue which goes back into town to fund projects that are non airport-related.
Apparently the Esperance council recently did a deal with Rex to negotiate a special discounted fare for locals, with lower fees and charges as an incentive. This is the sort of pro-active arrangement that could help to lower the cost of airfares.