Greens MPs plan to cut Brisbane airport noise revealed

As a report looms on noise issues around Brisbane Airport’s second runway, the Greens are planning to push the issue.

The Greens will host a series of protests in a bid to build pressure on the Federal Government to implement a curfew and cap on the number of flights out of Brisbane Airport.

It comes as Air Services Australia is expected to publicly release its report and recommendations into Brisbane Airport’s second-runway noise issue on Monday.

While falling short of gaining the balance of power in the House of Representatives, Greens Member for Griffith Max Chandler-Mather said he had not given up on the campaign commitment that saw him and two colleagues elected.

Queensland Greens Max Chandler-Mather MP for Griffith, with colleagues Elizabeth Watson-Brown MP for Ryan and Stephen Bates MP for Brisbane. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

He promised to use any tool at his disposal to deliver on it, including organising a series of rallies to build pressure, before moving a private members bill before the end of this term.

Mr Chandler-Mather pointed to the successful campaign in the 90s for a curfew at Sydney airport as a blueprint.

“At the moment the government is not willing to move on a curfew or a cap on flights,” he said.

“Given that Sydney airport already has it, we see no reason Brisbane airport shouldn’t also get it.

“Sydney airport ended up having 10,000 people march on Sydney airport to the point the federal government couldn’t ignore them anymore. To get the same outcome in Brisbane we need to organise the same sort of thing.”

He said recommendations in the Trax report that would assist in reducing airport noise would be welcome, but only a first step if they did not include a flight cap and curfew.

“We’ll see it as a first step and continue with the fight for a curfew and cap on flights. If you have flights screeching over your house at 2am in the morning that will disrupt your sleep and that does have long-term health impacts,” Mr Chandler-Mather said.

He said he did not agree with claims that the curfew and flight cap would restrict Brisbane’s economic growth.

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

“Sydney is a major international destination and its economy has thrived under reasonable restrictions. We see no reason that couldn’t happen here then,” he said.
Transport Minister Catherine King last week said she was working on the complex issue around flight noise at the second runway and that she had received the recommendations from Airservices Australia.
“I can’t promise it’s going to fix the problem for everybody. But we will try and improve it for as many people as we possibly can,” she said.
During the election Ms King promised a “permanent and independent” forum with powers to monitor airport noise, direct Airservices Australia to minimise the overall noise and review runway usage.
The Labor Government will also commission a new white paper to take a co-ordinated look at the national aviation policy framework.