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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 2 Hansard (29 February) . . Page.. 465 ..

MR DE DOMENICO (Minister for Urban Services and Minister for Business, Employment and Tourism) (11.30), in reply: Mr Speaker, again I would like to thank the members of the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Tourism for the report "`The Future of Airports in Australia' Conference". As we all know, there is no question that an airport is very important as a gateway to Canberra for tourists and business people coming to the national capital.

As members are aware, the Government has engaged consultants to undertake a study on the future of Canberra Airport as a transport and economic entity. That study, and the master planning exercise being undertaken by the Federal Airports Corporation, will address many of the issues raised by the committee. Ms Tucker mentioned cooperation with the Federal Government, and that is happening already. In addition, we expect to receive the outcome of the feasibility study of a high-speed rail link with Sydney.

As Mr Wood quite rightly said, we have to link one with the other, instead of doubling up on the things we do, as part of an overall transport strategy. Once we have the information gathered by these reports, the Government will decide what we can do to ensure that the airport is of maximum benefit to the local economy and to the community. In relation to the airport study, members will be interested to learn that a consortium consisting of Airplan, Macquarie Corporate Finance and Rust PPK, economic and transport experts, is undertaking the study on behalf of the Government.

Mr Speaker, Mr Wood also said something very salient about the ACT having our say in the ownership of such an airport; in other words, an interest in what happens, and perhaps even control, ultimately, of what happens, because it is in our area. He also mentioned that, as well as economic and planning issues, there is an environmental aspect and a social aspect. I suggest to some members of a particular party that knowledge and concern about the environment is shared by all members of this Assembly, not just a particular political party. From time to time one tends to take the view that only one or two people have a concern about the environment. That is not right. We might disagree about the emphasis we put on many things, but I think all members will acknowledge that all members in this Assembly have some concern about the environment.

Ms Tucker referred to a community representative. Yes, the Government has appointed a community representative. If Ms Tucker believes that that community representative is not as concerned about the environment as she might like, we will look at putting another person on to make sure that all the environmental aspects are looked at, as they would normally be looked at anyway, just to satisfy the concerns of Ms Tucker. She mentioned that not much work has been done yet about the community service obligations of this committee. I am suggesting that that has not been done because they have met only once. Let us give them time to consider what they are going to do. I am sure that, as the terms of reference said, they will look at the community service obligations situation. Ms Tucker quite rightly said that transport planning has to be looked at in a holistic way. That, I am sure, will be done. You will note that the members of the committee have wide-ranging expertise, not just in matters to do with airports, but also in economic, social, environmental and financial matters.

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