Graham Perrett (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on the motion brought by the member for Brisbane. In doing so, I want to acknowledge that every member of this House advocates for their constituents, and I have no doubt that the member is attempting to do this for his constituents. While decrying the fact that it's not inner-city people advocating for something, I'd point out that there are two inner-city MPs with petitions that would put more planes over my electorate—in fact, over my own house.

I know aircraft noise is an issue for many greater Brisbane residents. I used to live in Tarragindi under the flight path of the old runway, and I now live in Moorooka under the new runway flight path. When I look up from my house I see planes flying directly overhead. I also get Archerfield planes doing touch-and-go circuits, as well as emergency CareFlight helicopters and police returning to their base at Archerfield. So aircraft noise is not a theoretical concept used to clickbait and data harvest for me: it is personal. But, as leaders and lawmakers, we're here with a responsibility to the nation to put aside the temptation to score cheap political victories and to consider the broader impacts of our actions on all those they would affect.

A curfew at Brisbane Airport threatens to kill Brisbane's only Qatar Airways service as well as impact international carriers such as Singapore, Emirates, Fiji Airways, Cathay Pacific, EVA, China Airlines, VietJet, Jetstar and Qantas. Domestically, regional Queensland will be the most impacted, with a reduction of 3,100 flights. On the ground, this means that families and loved ones who live in regional Queensland—and remember, we are the most decentralised state—will not be able to visit as often or as easily or, in some circumstances, at all. In fact, many of the overnight cargo flights that leave Brisbane Airport are headed to regional Queensland, and they're carrying things like fresh produce or mechanical parts for farming equipment. They carry critical medical and pharmaceutical supplies, including cancer medications for some of the most remote communities in Queensland. So this Greens bill would make Queensland the only state where next-day delivery of time-sensitive items cannot be guaranteed. Are we really prepared to tell some Australians, particularly Queenslanders, that an inconvenience visited on some Brisbane residents affected by aircraft noise—and, as I said, I live right underneath this pathway—will outweigh their need for life-saving medical products?

At a time when Australians' demand for air services is high—and I'm sure that the member for Brisbane didn't come here by train or drive down—the simple fact remains that less capacity will cause a surge in fare prices and make air travel less affordable, not just for Brisbane residents but for people in regional Queensland and northern New South Wales, and travellers from interstate and beyond. Currently, 75 per cent of all Queensland tourism arrivals come through Brisbane Airport. As an island nation, geographically removed from much of the rest of the world, we're already at a disadvantage when it comes to attracting international travellers, and a curfew would only disadvantage us further.

This is not just about Brisbane residents experiencing the impacts of aircraft noise. The bill affects cafe and restaurant owners. It affects bar workers, tourism workers, airport workers, the member for Brisbane's former retail colleagues and many, many more. In fact, job losses of some 30,000 by 2032 across the aviation, tourism, logistics and resource sectors could be expected if a curfew were to be implemented. And, obviously, 2032 is the year of the Olympics. It would be a strange statement to the rest of the world. For context, 30,000 jobs is more job losses than there are currently employees at Brisbane airport. Economic losses to the tune of $2.82 billion could also be expected.

It's not just passenger fares that would increase. It's also the cost of imported goods—online purchases that everyday Queenslanders make of goods which come in from overseas. It's also everyday household items that would increase in price.

So I do genuinely sympathise with those who experience aircraft noise. I meet with them regularly. I have representatives on the Brisbane airport committee and the committee convened by Minister King.

But, during a cost-of-living crisis, it is extremely difficult to justify any action that would put further strain on the hardworking constituents that I represent by saying that airline prices must go up. We are talking about people: particularly low- to middle-income earners, renters and students—many people that I'm sure the member for Brisbane does care about. We need to get the balance right. But, if you want a place where there are no aircraft, you shouldn't be living in the middle of Brisbane.

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