Jamie Briggs (Mayo, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development) Share this | Hansard source

I would like to thank all members, particularly the members for Kingsford Smith and Grayndler for their support. I just need to correct one issue: the Abbott government is contributing to public transport projects through Asset Recycling Initiative. In fact, we will arguably be the biggest contributor to public transport rail projects in the Commonwealth's history. But other than that small factual error from the members for Grayndler and Kingsford Smith, we welcome their support and their contributions to the debate.

The Western Sydney airport development is an incredibly exciting project for Western Sydney. It is not a second airport in Sydney; it is the first airport for Western Sydney. The airport will be a key driver for economic development in Western Sydney and will be a catalyst for investment into the future in the education, science research and aeronautical industries. On top of this, the Abbott government, in partnership with the New South Wales government, is investing $3.6 billion in local infrastructure through the Western Sydney infrastructure package, and those projects are underway. The Bringelly Road project began in January, when the Prime Minister and Premier Baird turned the first sod, and more projects are shortly to begin.

The Airports Amendment Bill 2015 amends the Airports Act 1996 to provide for the creation of an airport plan for the proposed Western Sydney airport, in recognition of the different requirements the airport has as a greenfield development. Importantly, the bill recognises that the environmental assessment process currently underway for the airport is a key part of the approvals processes and confers an approval function on the environment minister in relation to environmental matters. In this way, the bill will require the Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development and Deputy Prime Minister to incorporate in the plan any environmental conditions imposed by the Minister for the Environment, following completion of the environmental impact statement. Preparation of a new and robust EIS is underway, and the community will have their opportunity to have a say on the draft EIS later this year.

The bill also includes measures that would help the government consider alternative operators, should Sydney airport group turn down an offer to develop and operate the proposed airport under the first right of refusal process, and it also removes cross-ownership restrictions currently placed on the Western Sydney airport. The bill contains some mechanical provisions to facilitate declaration of the airport site and other preparatory works. Again, I thank all members for their contributions to the debate and commend the bill to the House.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

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