Interesting to see that the Hunter region has 620,000 people. Yet there is no, and has never been an airline services to international destinations. A region in the US with that population would have a thriving airport with 100+ gates and was built 20+ years ago. Australia has become a 3rd rate country who's civil, business and political populations lack drive, imagination and a can do attitude. They are laughing at us in the US and Asia.