Page 3215 - Week 10 - Thursday, 17 September 2015
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Public Accounts—Standing Committee
Paper and statement by minister
MR BARR (Molonglo—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Urban Renewal and Minister for Tourism and Events): For the information of members, I present the following paper:
Public Accounts—Standing Committee—Report 11—Report on Annual and Financial Reports 2013-14—Recommendation 10—Update on aviation partnership and direct services for international flights—Tabling statement.
I ask leave to make a statement in relation to the paper.
Leave granted.
MR BARR: Today I am providing an update on the ACT government’s continued work with key international stakeholders relating to the establishment of aviation partnerships and direct services for international flights. Recommendation 10 of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts report No. 11 on annual and financial reports 2013-2014 recommended that the government update the Assembly on work taking place with key international stakeholders, in particular in New Zealand and Singapore, regarding the establishment of an aviation partnership and direct services for international flights. The government response tabled on 4 August 2015 agreed that a statement on this matter be presented to the Assembly.
Canberra Airport has undergone the biggest transformation in its history, with $480 million invested in the construction of a new terminal and supporting infrastructure. The government, in close partnership with the Canberra Airport, is leading efforts to attract direct services from Asia and from across the Tasman. Direct international flights would provide significant benefits to the territory and help secure its long-term future as a business and tourism hub and would contribute significantly towards achieving the ACT’s tourism 2020 target of increasing overnight visitor expenditure to $2.5 billion by 2020.
Research commissioned by VisitCanberra and undertaken by Independent Economics in December 2013 shows that daily services between Singapore and Canberra will generate $88 million per annum in gross regional product for the Canberra catchment and an additional 690 full-time jobs. Similarly, daily services between Auckland and Canberra will generate $51 million per annum in gross regional product for the Canberra catchment and an additional 395 full-time jobs. The economic modelling used in this report, the independent CGE model, is highly regarded, with the Australian Treasury a licensed user.
Business cases have been developed and presented to airlines, highlighting the Canberra and greater region opportunity that Asia and New Zealand presents for potential carriers. Ongoing dialogue and regular advocacy are being fostered with key stakeholders including airports, airlines and tourism bodies to reinforce the ACT government’s commitment to establishing aviation partnerships and direct services. A key part of the business case is showing the opportunity Canberra presents from both
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