INFRASTRUCTURE Minister Anthony Albanese has accused NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell of pursuing "short-term politics" through his continued opposition to a second Sydney airport. Mr Albanese said the government would continue to push for a second international airport and maintained the economic costs of not acting soon would be “substantial”.
“A major infrastructure project, like a second airport for Sydney, should be beyond short-term politics,” Mr Albanese told The Australian Online.
“This issue needs a bipartisan and evidence-based approach. Sydney needs a second airport sooner rather than later.”
Last month Mr Albanese released a 3200-page independent report on Sydney's aviation needs.
The report was commissioned by both the federal and NSW governments and emphasised that the current airport arrangements were not sufficient to cope with future demand.
But Mr O'Farrell told The Daily Telegraph the idea of a second Sydney airport would never be supported by his conservative government.
He said Sydneysiders should not have to put up with more aircraft noise and maintained a fast-rail service between Sydney and an expanded Canberra airport was “the most sensible option”.
Mr O'Farrell's opposition to the plan is at odds with not just the federal government but also Qantas CEO Alan Joyce.
For the first time, Mr Joyce expressed his support for the proposal and said planning should get underway.
“Sydney Airport will always be Australia's principal aviation hub and we need to focus on maximising the efficient use of the existing airport infrastructure,” Mr Joyce told The Australian Online.
“However it is also timely to start planning for a second airport in the Sydney basin to ensure that future international and domestic aviation growth opportunities can be realised.”
Foreign Minister Bob Carr, a former NSW Premier, also weighed into the debate today, saying a second international airport was inevitable and a bipartisan approach was needed from the federal and state governments.
"I'd like to see both levels of government, both sides of politics, get together and have a common position on a second airport,” Senator Carr said.
“I'd like to invite Barry O'Farrell to consider a bipartisan approach.”
Senator Carr declined to endorse putting a second airport at Badgery's Creek, in Sydney's west.
“I don't think options should be taken off the table,” he said.
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