Greens MP calls for high-speed trains to cut airport noise, ‘decarbonise our travel’

As the Greens reignite calls for a ban on Brisbane flights after 10pm, the party has been sledged over its preferred mode of transport for getting to Canberra.

The Greens are calling for fast trains to reduce airport noise and decarbonise travel. Picture: Sarah Marshall

High-speed rail is needed to cut back on airport noise and “decarbonise our travel”, Greens federal Member for Brisbane Stephen Bates said as the party reignited its call for a ban on flights after 10pm.

He said the push for a cap on flights and a curfew was “not a NIMBY attitude”, while Labor MP Graham Perrett said the Greens had “not caught the train” to come to Canberra.

It follows the Greens claiming a victory last week, saying the likely directive to send more flights over the water at Moreton Bay was a result of their and community lobbying.

Mr Bates said in parliament on Monday that Brisbane airport had plans to double flights by 2035, but that the Federal Government’s aviation green paper predicted a tripling of flight movements by 2050.

Greens Member for Brisbane Stephen Bates

“This stands to significantly increase noise, CO2 emissions and air pollution. This is not an issue that is just going to go away,” Mr Bates said.

“The east coast corridor contains three of the busiest air routes in the world.

“Instead of tripling flight movements by 2050, we should look to decarbonise our travel and finally build high-speed rail in this country.”

While high-speed rail has been talked about for many years, the current national High Speed Rail Authority was only set up from July this year.

Its interim CEO Andrew Hyles told an estimates hearing last month that there was no current time frame for the start or completion of works of the project, which would link Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane with trains travelling 250km/hr.

But according to a 2010 feasibility study, it was expected to cost $114 billion to build and the entire line would be complete by 2058 and there has been no progress on the project in the 13 years since then.

Mr Perrett said limiting flights would increase the cost of imported goods, online purchases and everyday items.

Labor Member for Moreton Graham Perrett

“I do have genuine sympathy with those impacted by airport noise. But during a cost of living crisis, its extremely difficult to take any action to put further strain on prices,” Mr Perrett said.

Mr Perrett said he was sure Mr Bates “didn’t come here by train or drive down”.

Brisbane Airport Corporation spokesman Stephen Beckett said the airport acknowledged the need for high-speed rail linking the east coast capital cities.

“The challenge of the Greens cap and curfew is what do we do until that’s built. Also, what do we do for those millions of Queenslanders who live in the regions who are very unlikely to ever have high-speed rail or any rail,” he said.

Mr Beckett said the aviation industry was acutely aware of the need to decarbonise and that steps were already being taken.

This included companies like Stralas, based at the airport, working towards the first green hydrogen fuelled commercial flight to start from 2026 and the increased use of sustainable aviation fuel.

Virgin Group CEO Josh Bayliss last week said Virgin Atlantic had received permission to fly the first transatlantic flight powered entirely by sustainable aviation fuel.