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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 7 Hansard (19 June) . . Page.. 1913 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

As many people know - well, maybe those opposite do not know, which I think is a bit worrying - we as a government have been looking at the capacity for an international airport in Canberra, and, of course, in the region as well, because, unlike the previous Government, we think regionally, which is the reason why we have our leaders forum where the mayors of 17 jurisdictions get together. One of the issues that we have spoken about in that forum is where an international airport should go in the region. The ACT has suggested that Canberra Airport might be an option, depending, of course, on environmental impact studies; but there might be other options, too. Goulburn has put forward the option of the Goulburn site. There have been other sites mentioned as well. My understanding is that the Goulburn site has been ruled out by the current Transport Minister, Mr Sharp. I understand that he prefers the Canberra option at this stage.

Those opposite may not know - they do not seem to know anything much today, or ever, really - that we recently had a meeting with Mr Sharp with regard to the international airport capacity for Canberra. He has agreed, in principle, anyway, to look at funding an environmental impact study for the Canberra Airport as an international terminal. I have written to him along those lines, and I have an assurance from Mr Sharp that he will put that forward in the budget context. It seems that we do have a degree of support anyway from the Federal Minister, which I think is a great breakthrough. Mr Speaker, it is a pity that those opposite cannot get excited about anything that is good for Canberra. It really is a pity. Goulburn was put forward as a possible site for the second Sydney airport. In terms of the discussions that happened over that weekend, we were talking about the Badgerys Creek proposal and whether it could be relocated to Goulburn. Even then it was very obvious that the Badgerys Creek proposal was throwing up a number of very real problems. I do not believe that Canberra Airport will ever be perceived to be the second airport for Sydney. Heaven help us all if it was. We are not looking at that at all. What we have looked at for Canberra, and did at that meeting, as well, I am sure, is the possibility of an international freight terminal for Canberra. I understand that that was looked at under the previous Government as well. It is interesting that, all of a sudden, they do not seem to like it when it comes from us.

MR WOOD: I have a supplementary question, Chief Minister. Today you quite clearly suggested an international airport for Canberra and one in the region. Do you really think that we can have two international airports? Should you not be pursuing the Canberra option, if that is your policy?

MRS CARNELL: Mr Wood, if I can push for anything in our region, I will do so. I think the chances of having Badgerys Creek relocated to Goulburn and having a Canberra international airport would be somewhat unlikely, Mr Wood; but we will be out there pushing for the region, under whatever circumstances and in whatever forums we have an opportunity to do so. I think the days when we could look at Canberra as having some sort of moat or wall around it have gone. Our future is in the region. That is the approach that we will be taking. No, we do not perceive that Badgerys Creek could be relocated to Goulburn as a full-scale international airport and that Canberra could be a full-scale international airport. Mr Speaker, I wonder whether Mr Wood is suggesting that Canberra should be Sydney's second airport. I must admit, from this side of the house, that we have extreme concern about that.

I ask that all further questions be placed on the notice paper.

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