Sydney Airport chief takes thinly veiled swipe at WA, Qld border closures

Sydney Airport’s chief says “self-interest has swallowed national interest” in a thinly veiled swipe at Queensland and WA’s border closures.

The chief of Sydney Airport has taken a thinly veiled swipe at Queensland and Western Australia for their tough border stances, saying “self-interest has swallowed national interest”.

Geoff Culbert decried the nation’s “fragmented and inconsistent approach” to borders at the Infrastructure Partnerships Australia virtual summit on Friday as August passenger figures for the facility, released to the ASX, showed a plunge of more than 96 per cent compared to the same month last year.

“We need a consistent nationwide set of definitions and metrics that determine a hot spot and what the triggers are for opening and closing borders,” Mr Culbert said.

“Importantly, these can’t be too conservative; they need to be realistic and achievable.

Sydney Airport chief Geoff Culbert (left) with Jobs Minister Stuart Ayres in happier times just over a year ago when the facility unveiled a new departures area at the T1 international terminal. Picture: AAP/Monique Harmer

“The behaviour we are seeing at the moment from certain states is inconsistent with what it means to be Australian.

“This is the moment we should all band together. We should have each other’s back.

“But unfortunately self-interest has swallowed national interest.”

His comments echo Qantas chief Alan Joyce, who has repeatedly called for a national framework for Australia’s border regime, saying the continued uncertainty was taking its toll on the industry.

Sydney Airport chief Geoff Culbert has echoed Qantas boss Alan Joyce in calling for a consistent national framework for interstate borders. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Flavio Brancaleone

WA Premier Mark McGowan has consistently remained firm that the state’s borders will remain shut to all but a few essential service providers until expert health advice recommends otherwise.

The pressure has been even more intense on Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, who announced on Friday the state would open up to the ACT from September 25.

Both Ms Palaszczuk and Mr McGowan have been accused of playing politics ahead of their respective state elections on October 31 and March 13.