Additional comments from Labor Senators

1.1Labor Senators appreciate the contribution of the many community and industry representatives who participated in this inquiry.

1.2The broad engagement with the work of this committee is evidence of the important role that the aviation sector plays in Australia. As a dispersed nation spread across an entire continent, we rely on aviation more than any other nation.

1.3The aviation sector connects us with family and friends, it enables access to international markets, delivers essential services to remote communities and directly employs more than 50,000 workers, while supporting the jobs of more than a million more.

1.4While a strong and sustainable aviation sector is undeniably critical, it is important to acknowledge that the industry can have significant impacts on the communities within which they operate and traverse. Given this, it is incumbent on the aviation sector and those in decision making roles to balance the development of the sector to ensure that negative impacts on the community are minimised and that community voices are heard.

1.5Throughout the course of this inquiry, it became clear that over a number of years previous governments failed to get this balance right—notably through the development of Brisbane’s New Parallel Runway and the early stages of development at Western Sydney Airport.

Brisbane Airport

1.6The new runway at Brisbane Airport was approved by the Hon Mark Vaile MP in 2007 under the Howard Government. This approval included concept-level flight path corridors, aircraft movement assumptions and noise-impact assessments.

1.7Following that approval, work on the site began in 2012, with Airservices developing the final flight path design through 2018 and 2019, based on the approved conditions. This flight path design occurred and was approved under the Turnbull and Morrison Governments.

1.8Labor Senators note that following the opening of the runway in 2020, it became apparent that the operations at Brisbane Airport did not meet the expectations of many within the community, and that the consultation undertaken during this period was insufficient.

1.9Labor Senators note that the current Government has worked to improve aircraft noise outcomes for the Brisbane community. Actions undertaken include:

Directing Airservices to prioritise the development of procedures to enable the greater use of Simultaneous Opposite Direction Parallel Runway Operations (SODPROPS) at Brisbane Airport, when meteorological and other operational conditions allow.

Permanently extending SODPROPS operations to 8am on Saturday and Sunday mornings and from 8pm on Saturday evenings

Removing the Noise Abatement Procedure that allowed the new runway to be used over land from 5am for non-jet departures

Implementing non-jet early turns from the legacy runway over land before 6am, so that aircraft cross the industrial area adjoining Brisbane Airport and complete their climb over water

A change of runway from the new parallel runway to the legacy one for over water departures to the west, to address an existing operational safety issue.

Establishing the Brisbane Airport Community Airspace Advisory Board – to give Brisbane residents the opportunity to have their voices heard on this important issue.

1.10While these changes will not remove all impacts of aircraft noise, Labor Senators commend the Government for their continued actions to improve community outcomes.

Western Sydney International Airport

1.11Labor Senators note that there are similarities with the development of Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) and what occurred with Brisbane.

1.12It became increasingly apparent throughout the course of this inquiry that the approvals processes undertaken by the previous government involved too little community consultation and too little attention paid to genuine noise concerns.

1.13This could be seen most clearly with the community reaction to the initial flight path designs, released in 2016, involving a single merge point, concentrating noise over one community.

1.14As was the case with Brisbane Airport, the current government has had to deal with the consequences of these failures.

1.15Labor Senators commend the government for releasing WSI’s preliminary flight paths early, in June 2023, and undertaking a range of community information and feedback sessions.

1.16While WSI has always been planned to operate on a curfew-free basis, and operating without a curfew is important for the economic viability of the airport, Labor Senators encourage the Government to continue to work with communities to minimise impacts where possible.

1.17This should include appropriate conditions being applied through any approval of the flight paths.

Melbourne Airport’s Third Runway

1.18Labor Senators also commend the Government for the conditions attached to the recent approval of Melbourne’s Third Runway, which included more consideration of noise impacts and noise amelioration policies and community health studies.

1.19Labor Senators note that these conditions represent the most comprehensive set of conditions for a project of this type and include:

A legally enforceable commitment to restore the length of the east-west runway to maximise opportunities for noise sharing;

Implementation of a noise amelioration program for communities most impacted;

A noise sharing plan that prioritises sharing of aircraft noise between affected areas; and

A community health study into the impacts of noise.

1.20Labor Senators also note that any noise and health related studies required of airport operators should be included as ‘aircraft related services’ in Regulation 20 of the Airports Regulations 2024.

Other Matters

1.21Labor Senators note the astonishing failure of the former government when it comes to aviation, including:

(a)The decision to incentivise the early retirement of Air Traffic Controllers employed by Airservices Australia during the COVID pandemic. This decision continues to have significant consequences today where delays due to shortages of Air Traffic Controllers continue to take place. Labor Senators note that Airservices Australia is in the midst of a recruitment process to reverse the impacts of this decision.

(b)At Sydney Airport, the previous government commissioned a review into the Sydney Airport Demand Management Scheme. That review reported back to the Government in 2021 but was not acted upon. It was left to the currently government to respond to and implement.

1.22Labor Senators acknowledge the reforms being undertaken by the Government to the aviation sector. These are the most significant reforms in over a decade and are particularly focussed on improving engagement with communities and responsiveness to community concerns, including through the Aviation White Paper.

1.23These measures include:

Creating an independent ombuds scheme for aircraft noise

Appointing an Airservices Australia executive for noise and environment to lead the agency’s work on noise minimisation

Improving engagement with communities affected by changes to airspace and flight paths.

1.24Labor Senators encourage the Government to continue taking sensible action to reform the aviation sector and deliver the outcomes that the travelling public, and all communities on the ground, deserve.