Brisbane flight cap would ‘bring national network to a standstill’, airport says

Brisbane Airport says a cap and curfew on flights would ‘bring the national network to a standstill’ but a Greens MP has hit back, saying opposition to the move was about ‘relentless pursuit of profits’.

A cap and curfew on flights for Brisbane Airport would “bring the national network to a standstill”, an airport spokesman said as the Greens introduced their proposed laws to the parliament on Monday.

But Ryan MP Elizabeth Watson-Brown accused the airport of seeking to double flights and making the airport noise problem worse “in the relentless pursuit of profits”.

Ms Watson-Brown moved the private members bill, which was a carbon copy of a bill seeking to achieve the same outcomes moved by Greens leader Adam Bandt in February last year but lapsed when parliament dissolved for the election.

Queensland Greens Max Chandler-Mather, Elizabeth Watson-Brown and Stephen Bates. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The Bill, which does not have support from the government or opposition, seeks to limit flight arrivals and departures to the airport to a combined 45 per hour, fewer than before the second runway opened.

The Minister would also have the power to lower that limit even further.

It also seeks to establish a curfew banning flights between 10pm and 6am Queensland time.

Ms Watson-Brown said Sydney Airport had a curfew and criticised previous arguments from Brisbane Airport Corporation that the cap and curfew would limit regional flights.

“Dividing Queenslanders between those who live in the city and those who live in the regions (is) a pretty hackneyed political strategy,” she said.

“They know regional flights get cut when privately run airports and airlines are willing to sacrifice regional Queenslanders to corporate profits.”

Brisbane Airport Corporation spokesman Stephen Beckett said capping flights to 45 per hour reduced the airport’s capacity to less than when there was a single runway.

He said there were no exemptions for when weather events caused delays.

Brisbane residents rallying outside Brisbane Airport Corporation against fight noise. Picture: Tara Croser.

“Those delays are then locked in because you can’t clear the backlog,” Mr Beckett said.

“This will bring the national network to a standstill.”

Airport noise has been an issue for residents in suburbs including Ascot, Hendra, Hamilton, New Farm, Teneriffe, Bulimba, Samford Valley and Brookfield, since the opening of the second runway in July 2020.

Airservices Australia last year handed down a series of recommendations to reduce airport noise, with more flights being directed away from homes and over Moreton Bay since then.