Steve Georganas (Hindmarsh, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Transport and Regional Services, and I refer the minister to his statement in the consideration in detail stage of the appropriation bills on 14 June when, in answer to questions about issues relating to airports, local government and rates, he said:

In the case of Adelaide airport, an independent arbiter was put in place to try to establish a successful outcome. He made a recommendation … but, when it came to it, the council was not prepared to accept the arbiter’s ruling.

Minister, isn’t it a fact that there was no ruling and it was Adelaide Airport and not the council that withdrew from the arbitration process? Why did the minister mislead the parliament and why hasn’t he sought to correct the record?

Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Minister for Transport and Regional Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There have been disputes involving two airports, Adelaide and Perth, in relation to the payment of rates. In the case of Perth, the Westralia Airports Corporation have reached agreement with two of their three local authority areas but not the third. There are difficult negotiations going on at the present time in an endeavour to resolve these issues. I do not seek to inflame the issues any further by making additional comments, other than to say that we will be working diligently and carefully with the City of West Torrens Council and the City of Belmont in an endeavour to have the issues resolved promptly.