Page 3285 - Week 11 - Thursday, 22 September 1994
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I commend the committee on its work in relation to this inquiry. Committee members and staff spent a great deal of time meeting with relevant Commonwealth agencies and others to discuss a variety of issues regarding the airport. The report, An International Airport in the ACT, makes valuable recommendations, and I am pleased to say that the Government agrees with most. In fact, the Government had already decided on a number of matters prior to the report recommending them. The Canberra Tourism Commission has begun to implement several of these decisions. For example, in the 1994-95 budget, the Canberra Tourism Commission received an additional $1m funding over the next four years to enhance its international marketing effort, with a particular emphasis on the Japanese market. The commission is preparing long-term strategies with the objective of creating greater incentive for international carriers to utilise Canberra Airport. It has had preliminary discussions with several international carriers regarding the feasibility of international charter flights operating at Canberra Airport. The commission has entered into full membership with Partnership Australia.
Madam Speaker, Partnership Australia is an initiative of the Australian Tourism Commission which involves all States and Territories in strategically and cooperatively marketing Australia overseas. The ACT will benefit from Partnership Australia through cooperative exercises with the Australian Tourism Commission and other States' tourism bodies which will allow the ACT greater and more cost-effective marketing exposure. The Canberra Tourism Commission's international marketing activities will have an impact on the desirability for, and potential viability of, an international airport by further creating and heightening demand for Canberra as a tourist destination.
Madam Speaker, as members will be aware, and as noted in the report, the Federal Government has recently announced its plans to dispose of the assets of the Federal Airports Corporation, the FAC, and fast-track the development of Badgery's Creek airport. Consistent with the report's recommendation, the Government is undertaking a detailed examination of the possible acquisition of Canberra Airport. A full cost-benefit assessment will not be possible until after the Commonwealth Government releases the Federal airport scoping study report later this year or early next year.
The view of Airport Planning Pty Ltd, consultants engaged by the Government to assist with the submission, indicates that regular, direct, scheduled wide-bodied international airline operations at Canberra Airport could not be sustainable for some time beyond the year 2000. This viewpoint takes into consideration the Sydney Olympics in 2000. The submissions to the inquiry from the Federal Airports Corporation, Qantas and Ansett Airlines support the consultants' view, as does the Government's own research. In that context, the Government is not able to agree with the recommendation that further cost-benefit studies be undertaken on the immediate upgrade of the airport to international capacity. Madam Speaker, what is evident is that we must attract more international visitors to Canberra and ensure that we maximise the opportunities presented by the Olympic Games in Sydney in the year 2000 and the celebration of Federation in 2001. Canberra Airport has an important role to play in providing access for these international visitors. The Government is actively exploring the options for its future.
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