Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Tourism and International Education) Share this | Hansard source

Thanks to the honourable senator for the question. I know that as a senator from Queensland he is interested in this matter.

On Monday, the first international trial flight departed the Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport, sending fresh produce to China direct—the world's biggest consumer market—on a Cathay Pacific Boeing 747-8 freighter. Aboard that flight was chilled beef to Hong Kong and frozen beef to Shanghai, as well as lettuce, pecans and mangoes from South-East Queensland and North Queensland. This first international trial flight marks a significant milestone in what has been a $200 million investment by the Wagner family. In fact, Wellcamp airport is the first greenfield public airport built in Australia in 50 years and the nation's first privately funded public airport.

This significant event, because there is another point of export, means that our primary producers have even more opportunity to capitalise on the strong international demand for our high-quality produce. The coalition government is 100 per cent behind this investment, and we remain focused on working with Wellcamp in the development of the proposed business plan, and we will continue to work through appropriate biosecurity infrastructure and resources issues to ensure regular international flights in and out become a reality.