Brisbane airport curfews and caps shot down at Senate inquiry

The Greens have slammed a Federal Senate inquiry’s views on Brisbane Airport noise – despite not turning up for the hearing in the state capital.

The Greens have slammed a Federal Senate inquiry’s views on Brisbane Airport noise – despite not turning up for the committee’s hearing in the state capital.

The Senate’s inquiry into bilateral air service agreements focused largely on the controversial decision by the Federal government to block additional flights for Qatar Airways, but also spent time discussing the issue of noise at Brisbane Airport.

As part of the official report released this week, the Senate committee wrote that curfews and flight caps at Brisbane Airport – as proposed by the Greens, “could disadvantage regional airports and access to aviation services across regional Queensland” and the committee “would not support legislation to implement a demand management scheme for Brisbane Airport”.

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

Queensland Greens Senator Penny Allman-Payne filed a dissenting report, which criticised the committee’s handling of airport noise concerns.

“This Committee failed to closely examine the evidence on Brisbane aircraft noise, instead making comments based on evidence from stakeholders who have a clear vested interest in increasing the number of flights passing through Brisbane Airport, and therefore making aircraft noise worse,” she wrote.

“The committee made these comments despite not hearing evidence from affected residents about the devastating effects of aircraft noise on their lives.”

However, neither Ms Allman-Payne, nor any of her Greens colleagues, turned up to a committee sitting in Brisbane on September 26 when representatives from Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) were grilled on the issue.

The Greens have for some time been vocal about noise concerns at Brisbane Airport, attracting strong responses from BAC and even an extraordinary spray from Deputy Premier Steven Miles.

Stills from a Steven Miles video at CAPA Centre for Aviation – photo Supplied

BAC spokesman Stephen Beckett said the Greens had every opportunity to ask questions about airport noise during the Senate committee’s Brisbane sitting.

“Brisbane Airport Corporation was asked to give evidence at the Senate Inquiry into aviation which held hearings in Brisbane,” he said.

“Had the Senator attended the hearings in Brisbane, we would have been happy to address her concerns, or answer any of the questions she may have had about aircraft noise at Brisbane Airport or the role BNE (Brisbane Airport) plays in Queensland’s critical industries.

“Soon after her election to Parliament, Brisbane Airport sought a meeting with Queensland Senator Allman-Payne to discuss her concerns about aircraft noise (but) the Senator’s office advised that due to her heavy travel schedule she was unable to meet with Brisbane Airport.”

A statement from the Greens did not address questions about Ms Allman-Payne’s absence from the committee’s Brisbane hearing, but it is understood she had a prior commitment.

Queensland Greens Senator Penny Allman-Payne. Picture: Liam Kidston

“The Greens will use every opportunity to elevate community concerns about excessive flight noise and we won’t let corporate propaganda go unchallenged,” Ms Allman-Payne said in the statement.

“Brisbane Airport Corporation wants to double the number of flights by 2035, and the government’s own Aviation Green Paper would see a tripling of flights by 2050.

“That’s why we’ve introduced a bill to deliver a curfew from 10pm to 6am, a cap on the total number of flights per hour and a long-term operating plan so we can have more flights over the water rather than people’s homes.”