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Abbott Government To Build Second Sydney Airport At Badgerys Creek

Apr 15, 2014

The federal government has announced that a second Sydney airport will be built at Badgerys Creek.

Abbott

Planning for the new airport is to start immediately, with construction beginning in 2016. The government says most of the cost will be met by a private sector operator.

The Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, and the Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Warren Truss, made the announcement at a press conference in Canberra this afternoon.

They said the initial construction phase is expected to generate around 4,000 jobs. The airport development should provide 35,000 jobs by 2035, increasing to 60,000 jobs over time. An increase of almost $24 billion in Australian gross domestic product (GDP) is predicted by 2060.

Abbott presented the decision as an infrastructure package for western Sydney and stressed that his focus was on “roads first, airport second”.

Abbott said the government was not proposing a curfew similar to the one that applies at Kingsford-Smith. This is likely to be a contentious issue for Liberal and Labor MPs in the new airport’s vicinity.

The decision to build at Badgerys Creek brings to an end a debate which began in the 1960s. The Hawke government acquired the land at Badgerys Creek in the 1980s.

  • Listen to Abbott and Truss (22m – transcript below)

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  • Listen to the ALP’s Anthony Albanese comment (19m)

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  • Listen to NSW ALP Opposition Leader John Robertson comment (8m)

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Media release from Tony Abbott, Prime Minister, and Warren Truss, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Abbott, Audio, Aviation, Infrastructure Tagged With: , , , , ,

ALP Pledges To Keep Qantas Australian; Says Jobs Will Be Lost Under Government Plan

Mar 03, 2014

The Federal Opposition will oppose the Abbott government’s plan to repeal Section 3 of the Qantas Sale Act.

Speaking at a press conference in Canberra tonight, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, Infrastructure and Transport spokesman Anthony Albanese and Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen said the “Australian icon” and jobs would be lost offshore.

Shorten

Albanese said the airline would not be Australian if its head office wasn’t in Australia or if maintenance jobs were based overseas. He said the decision was another example of a government that was good at getting into office but didn’t know what to do when it got there.

Bowen said the issue was more than just about Qantas. “This is about Australian businesses having trust in the government,” he said.

Shorten said the fiction of the last six months is that the government will fight for Australian jobs. He said the government was creating a new export industry of exporting jobs.

The Greens have also announced that they will oppose the legislation and will move to set up a Senate inquiry into the issue. Opposition from the ALP and Greens means the legislation won’t pass the current Senate. The new Senate, including the Western Australian senators who will be elected on April 5, takes office on July 1.

  • Listen to Shorten, Albanese and Bowen (16m)

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Filed Under: A.L.P., Audio, Aviation Tagged With: , , , ,

Government Refuses Debt Guarantee For Qantas But Will Repeal Foreign Ownership Restrictions

Mar 03, 2014

The federal government has refused to provide a debt guarantee or a line of credit for Qantas but says it will relax ownership restrictions by repealing Part 3 of the Qantas Sale Act.

Abbott

Amongst other provisions, Part 3 restricts foreign ownership of the airline to 49%. It restricts foreign airlines from owning more than 35% of Qantas. It stipulates that maintenance jobs are based in Australia. The full text of Part 3 is available here in a popup window.

The decision was announced by Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss and Treasurer Joe Hockey at a press conference in Canberra tonight. Abbott said there was a two hour discussion of Qantas at today’s Cabinet meeting.

The Prime Minister said repeal of Section 3 did not mean Qantas would become foreign owned because it would still be subject to the 49% limit imposed by the Air Navigation Act. He said the existing Qantas Sale Act 1992 places restrictions on Qantas that advantage its competitors.

Abbott said it was time Qantas was freed from the shackles of the Sale Act so that it can compete internationally. He said the government would not play favourites and that the decision was about “giving everyone a fair go”. He said Virgin was an Australian company because it employed Australians.

Treasurer Joe Hockey said repeal of the Sale Act would provide a “level playing field”. Abbott said he had “faith” in Qantas. “If Australians are allowed to have a go there is nothing we can’t do,” he said.

Legislation to repeal Part 3 may be introduced this week.

  • Listen to Abbott, Truss and Hockey (25m)

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Joint press release from Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss and Treasurer Joe Hockey.

LEVELLING THE AVIATION PLAYING FIELD

The Government will move to a single regulatory framework for all Australian international airlines.

As soon as possible, legislation will be introduced to remove the foreign ownership restrictions and conditions that apply to Qantas’ business operations contained in Part 3 of the Qantas Sale Act 1992.

Removing these conditions is the best way to ensure Qantas can secure Australian jobs now and into the future.

Australians want a strong and competitive Qantas. The existing Qantas Sale Act 1992 places restrictions on Qantas that advantage its competitors.

Like all other Australian international airlines, Qantas will continue to be subject to the Air Navigation Act 1920 (ANA). The ANA applies to both Virgin Australia and Jetstar.

The ANA effectively limits total foreign ownership of Australian international airlines to 49 per cent, but does not impose the additional restrictions on business operations that apply to Qantas under the Qantas Sale Act 1992.

These changes will provide business flexibility for Qantas consistent with other airlines based in Australia.

Foreign investment will continue to be subject to consideration and approval by the Foreign Investment Review Board.

This is the best policy response to the difficulties currently being faced by Qantas.

Legislation will be finalised and introduced as soon as practicable. Any changes to Qantas’ operations as a result of these changes are a matter for the Qantas board and management.

Filed Under: Abbott, Audio, Aviation Tagged With: , , , , ,