Residents’ airport noise fears still not being listened to

As tourists return Brisbane Airport is only going to get busier and while that’s good for jobs and the economy, locals under the flight path rightly worry about what it might mean for them, writes Catherine King.

Aviation is essential to Australia and to Brisbane.

Brisbane Airport is the gateway to the city and everything that South East Queensland has to offer.

It is Australia’s third busiest airport, it employs nearly 24,000 people and it contributes more than $4 billion annually to the state’s economy.

As a transport and employment hub, it delivers so much for this city and our national economy.

As tourists return and Brisbane continues to grow, the airport is only going to get busier and busier.

While that may be good for jobs and the economy, locals under the flight path rightly worry about what it might mean for them.

With the opening of the second runway, locals have seen first-hand what happens when a government opens a major infrastructure project without having properly consulted with locals.

It means no transparency and clarity about flight times and noise levels.

It means locals are left without a voice.

A Virgin flight at the opening of Brisbane’s second runway. Picture: Beau Chenery

Led by our local MPs and candidates, Terri Butler, Graham Perrett, Anika Wells, Madonna Jarrett, Ali France and Peter Cossar, Labor has long argued that the Morrison-Joyce Government needs to take seriously the concerns of residents affected by aircraft noise.

Yes, we were pleased to see the Government follow Labor’s lead last September by establishing an independent airport forum for Brisbane residents. But why isn’t it permanent like the similar model in Sydney?

If Labor is successful at the next election, we will act to fix these issues.

We will take the next step of making that forum permanent and independent and we will ensure Airservices actually measures the noise that locals have to put up with, whether from the new runway or the legacy runway.

The improved community consultation body will be empowered to advise the government on noise issues, as well as allowing the community to come together to directly engage with the operators of the airport and Airservices Australia.

Through this body, Labor will be keen to explore other ideas to better manage aircraft noise for Brisbane residents. These could include increased independence for the Aircraft Noise Ombudsman, further independent reviews of runway usage or even issuing an explicit direction to Airservices Australia to minimise overall noise exposure to Brisbane residents. We have an open mind when it comes to doing what needs to be done.

Shadow transport minister Catherine King.

While Brisbane residents are bearing the brunt of aircraft noise, Brisbane is not the only city in Australia where residents are facing new and increasing issues.

To deal with this and other issues across the country, Labor will commission a new white paper to take a detailed and coordinated look at our national aviation policy framework. It will address aircraft noise and airport planning, but also the future of general and training aviation and help set the sector up for a new era of competition and prosperity.

The last white paper of this type was delivered by Anthony Albanese way back in 2009, and since then the Morrison-Joyce Government has allowed policy to drift.

In the absence of leadership from the current government, an Albanese Labor Government will step up to work with the local community, enable their voices to be heard and chart a better future for Australian aviation.

Catherine King is shadow minister for transport and infrastructure