❓ Question regarding Perth Airport congestion and the need for a third runway. Minister acknowledges the issue, discusses plans, and seeks bipartisan support. Focus on economic impact and future development.
AnsweredQoN 724Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PERTH AIRPORT — THIRD RUNWAY
724. Mr J.M. FRANCIS to the Minister for Transport:
I note recent discussions about congestion at Perth Airport
and this government's view that a third runway is required. Could the
minister please provide the house with an update on any new information that he
has attained and whether he is aware of any alternative views?
724. Mr J.M. FRANCIS to the Minister for Transport:
I note recent discussions about congestion at Perth Airport
and this government's view that a third runway is required. Could the
minister please provide the house with an update on any new information that he
has attained and whether he is aware of any alternative views?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member very much for the
question; I will endeavour to answer it as best I can. The member for Jandakot
is right; some time ago in this house we had some discussion. I am sorry the
member for Cannington is not here today because he was a pivotal part of that,
with his plan to relocate Perth Airport to Pearce Air Base. I will talk about
that in a second. We have previously discussed the issues around Perth Airport.
There would not be a person in this house who has gone to Perth Airport and not
had their travel plans impacted on by the congestion at the airport. That has a
significant direct economic cost to the state and a significant indirect cost
to the state. The fact is that Perth Airport has plans to build a third runway
post2029. That is too far away. It is too long for the users of that airport
to wait.
Dr
A.D. Buti : The future fund will be open by then.
Mr
T.R. BUSWELL : I am assuming that none of the member for Armadale's
constituents use the airport. He does not seem to be that interested in it,
notwithstanding the fact that it is one of the most important pieces of transportation
infrastructure in the state.
As I outlined last time, the rate of
growth of passengers through the airport is way over and above what the airport
had originally anticipated, and a third runway needs to be built. I indicated
at the time that I would write to Mr Geatches, the CEO of Perth Airport, and
seek some information from him. I might just read a quick bit of that letter
into Hansard . It states —
As you would be aware, both the
State and Federal Governments are committed to investing approximately
$1billion upgrading the road network
Given this commitment and the
importance of the Airport to the State's continued economic growth, I
am seeking assurances that the planning and investment commitment
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : Can you table that?
Mr
T.R. BUSWELL : I am happy to.
[See paper 5595.]
Mr
T.R. BUSWELL : He goes on and asks for information about time lines, capital
costs et cetera. I will be meeting on the twenty-second of this month with Mr
Geatches and, I am pretty sure, with the chairman of Westralia Airports
Corporation Pty Ltd.
Leader of the Opposition, I am
hoping to be able to inform them, based on our previous conversation by way of
interjection, that the construction of the third runway at Perth airport is an
important issue that has bipartisan support in this state. I am assuming that
the Labor Party in Western Australia supports bringing forward the construction
of the third airport. I know he does not support —
Mr
F.M. Logan : Third runway.
Mr
T.R. BUSWELL : The third runway, sorry.
Several members interjected.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
Busselton airport—now you are on good ground. I am assuming the Leader
of the Opposition supports our endeavours to get Perth airport —
Mr M. McGowan :
What are you putting into it?
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I
am putting $1 billion worth of commonwealth roads around it. I do not have to
put into Perth airport; it is a private enterprise. I want to know —
Mr B.S. Wyatt : It'll
take more than $1 billion to fund it.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
Hold on; let me clarify: Do you support —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park!
Mr B.S. Wyatt : You're
the Treasurer; what are you putting into it? Put something into it, Treasurer!
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park, I call you formally for the first and second time
today. There is a process in this place, member for Victoria Park, and I know
that you know what the process is.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
All I am saying is that when I meet with Mr Geatches —
Mr P. Papalia :
Time for a joke.
The SPEAKER : The
joke may be on you at this point, member for Warnbro. I formally call you to
order for the first time today. I do not want to hear further interjections. I
do not think people on my left want to hear further interjections if they want to
ask questions.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
All I am saying is that the meeting on 22 November is an important meeting. I
think the third runway is an important piece of infrastructure. I think members
opposite would join with me in agreeing that bringing forward the third runway
is an important thing for the state government to pressure the Perth airport to
do. I am assuming that is the Leader of the Opposition's position.
Mr M. McGowan : We
support additional airport and transport infrastructure in Western Australia.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
Do you support bringing forward a third runway?
Point of Order
Mr
B.S. WYATT : I may be wrong, but I recall that the member for
Jandakot asked the question of the Treasurer. He could quite as easily have
asked the question of the Leader of the Opposition, and I am sure he would have
answered it. I ask you to draw the Treasurer back to answering the question put
to him.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
One of the questions the member for Jandakot asked was: was I aware of any
alternative views about bringing forward the third runway?
Mr B.S. Wyatt :
What's your view? You're the government.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
My view is that they should bring it forward.
Mr B.S. Wyatt :
Good; go and tell them. Table the letter and sit down.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the third time
today.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I
want to table one other letter—a letter from a senior opposition shadow
minister, the member for Cannington, to one of his constituents. I am sorry he
is not here. I will read a bit of it into Hansard —
I am writing to let you know that
I have started to fight against the Liberal State Governments plans that will
dramatically increase aircraft noise in Beckenham.
In the 'West Australian'
newspaper on 6 th October 2012, Liberal State Government Treasurer
Troy Buswell announced that he wants Perth Airport to build a third runway.
True. It continues —
That runway will be pointed right
at your house
Several members interjected.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
That is not an inflammatory statement. I will repeat that —
That runway will be pointed right
at your house
A third runway at Perth Airport
will massively increase aircraft noise for you in your house.
This decision by the Liberal State
Government has been made with absolutely no consultation with local residents
or anyone else in our local community. It is another bad decision by the
Liberal State Government.
I am totally opposed to this
decision by the Liberal State Government. I will campaign against this decision
and I want to ask for your help.
I wanted to state for the public record that the state
government will be meeting with Perth Airport and we will say to Perth Airport,
as we have said to the people of this state, bring forward the construction of
the third runway.
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
The question I think the public of Western Australia rightly will ask of the
opposition and the Leader of the Opposition is: what is your view on bringing
forward the third runway at Perth airport; is it that you oppose it? I think
that is what it is, Leader of the Opposition.
The SPEAKER :
Before I give anyone the call, member for Warnbro, I formally call you to
order, I believe, for the second time today.
Mr J.N. Hyde interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member
for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today.
question; I will endeavour to answer it as best I can. The member for Jandakot
is right; some time ago in this house we had some discussion. I am sorry the
member for Cannington is not here today because he was a pivotal part of that,
with his plan to relocate Perth Airport to Pearce Air Base. I will talk about
that in a second. We have previously discussed the issues around Perth Airport.
There would not be a person in this house who has gone to Perth Airport and not
had their travel plans impacted on by the congestion at the airport. That has a
significant direct economic cost to the state and a significant indirect cost
to the state. The fact is that Perth Airport has plans to build a third runway
post2029. That is too far away. It is too long for the users of that airport
to wait.
Dr
A.D. Buti : The future fund will be open by then.
Mr
T.R. BUSWELL : I am assuming that none of the member for Armadale's
constituents use the airport. He does not seem to be that interested in it,
notwithstanding the fact that it is one of the most important pieces of transportation
infrastructure in the state.
As I outlined last time, the rate of
growth of passengers through the airport is way over and above what the airport
had originally anticipated, and a third runway needs to be built. I indicated
at the time that I would write to Mr Geatches, the CEO of Perth Airport, and
seek some information from him. I might just read a quick bit of that letter
into Hansard . It states —
As you would be aware, both the
State and Federal Governments are committed to investing approximately
$1billion upgrading the road network
Given this commitment and the
importance of the Airport to the State's continued economic growth, I
am seeking assurances that the planning and investment commitment
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : Can you table that?
Mr
T.R. BUSWELL : I am happy to.
[See paper 5595.]
Mr
T.R. BUSWELL : He goes on and asks for information about time lines, capital
costs et cetera. I will be meeting on the twenty-second of this month with Mr
Geatches and, I am pretty sure, with the chairman of Westralia Airports
Corporation Pty Ltd.
Leader of the Opposition, I am
hoping to be able to inform them, based on our previous conversation by way of
interjection, that the construction of the third runway at Perth airport is an
important issue that has bipartisan support in this state. I am assuming that
the Labor Party in Western Australia supports bringing forward the construction
of the third airport. I know he does not support —
Mr
F.M. Logan : Third runway.
Mr
T.R. BUSWELL : The third runway, sorry.
Several members interjected.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
Busselton airport—now you are on good ground. I am assuming the Leader
of the Opposition supports our endeavours to get Perth airport —
Mr M. McGowan :
What are you putting into it?
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I
am putting $1 billion worth of commonwealth roads around it. I do not have to
put into Perth airport; it is a private enterprise. I want to know —
Mr B.S. Wyatt : It'll
take more than $1 billion to fund it.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
Hold on; let me clarify: Do you support —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park!
Mr B.S. Wyatt : You're
the Treasurer; what are you putting into it? Put something into it, Treasurer!
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park, I call you formally for the first and second time
today. There is a process in this place, member for Victoria Park, and I know
that you know what the process is.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
All I am saying is that when I meet with Mr Geatches —
Mr P. Papalia :
Time for a joke.
The SPEAKER : The
joke may be on you at this point, member for Warnbro. I formally call you to
order for the first time today. I do not want to hear further interjections. I
do not think people on my left want to hear further interjections if they want to
ask questions.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
All I am saying is that the meeting on 22 November is an important meeting. I
think the third runway is an important piece of infrastructure. I think members
opposite would join with me in agreeing that bringing forward the third runway
is an important thing for the state government to pressure the Perth airport to
do. I am assuming that is the Leader of the Opposition's position.
Mr M. McGowan : We
support additional airport and transport infrastructure in Western Australia.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
Do you support bringing forward a third runway?
Point of Order
Mr
B.S. WYATT : I may be wrong, but I recall that the member for
Jandakot asked the question of the Treasurer. He could quite as easily have
asked the question of the Leader of the Opposition, and I am sure he would have
answered it. I ask you to draw the Treasurer back to answering the question put
to him.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
One of the questions the member for Jandakot asked was: was I aware of any
alternative views about bringing forward the third runway?
Mr B.S. Wyatt :
What's your view? You're the government.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
My view is that they should bring it forward.
Mr B.S. Wyatt :
Good; go and tell them. Table the letter and sit down.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the third time
today.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I
want to table one other letter—a letter from a senior opposition shadow
minister, the member for Cannington, to one of his constituents. I am sorry he
is not here. I will read a bit of it into Hansard —
I am writing to let you know that
I have started to fight against the Liberal State Governments plans that will
dramatically increase aircraft noise in Beckenham.
In the 'West Australian'
newspaper on 6 th October 2012, Liberal State Government Treasurer
Troy Buswell announced that he wants Perth Airport to build a third runway.
True. It continues —
That runway will be pointed right
at your house
Several members interjected.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
That is not an inflammatory statement. I will repeat that —
That runway will be pointed right
at your house
A third runway at Perth Airport
will massively increase aircraft noise for you in your house.
This decision by the Liberal State
Government has been made with absolutely no consultation with local residents
or anyone else in our local community. It is another bad decision by the
Liberal State Government.
I am totally opposed to this
decision by the Liberal State Government. I will campaign against this decision
and I want to ask for your help.
I wanted to state for the public record that the state
government will be meeting with Perth Airport and we will say to Perth Airport,
as we have said to the people of this state, bring forward the construction of
the third runway.
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
The question I think the public of Western Australia rightly will ask of the
opposition and the Leader of the Opposition is: what is your view on bringing
forward the third runway at Perth airport; is it that you oppose it? I think
that is what it is, Leader of the Opposition.
The SPEAKER :
Before I give anyone the call, member for Warnbro, I formally call you to
order, I believe, for the second time today.
Mr J.N. Hyde interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member
for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today.
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