Labor caught short on detail with rushed Western Sydney Airport “announcement”

The Turnbull Government recognises that a new airport needs to operate in a way that addresses concerns about flight paths and aircraft noise and that meets the expectations of the community.

We are also committed to the many thousands of new jobs that will be generated by a fully functioning Western Sydney Airport.

Today, Labor offered a hastily cobbled together proposal that between the hours of 11pm and 6am, landing aircraft only have access to restricted runways.

That is, between those hours, aircraft only approach the airport from the southwest as well as depart only to the southwest.

It is far from clear that this plan is workable – or that Labor is even certain about the details of what it is announcing.

Shadow infrastructure spokesman Anthony Albanese was unable to name a single expert he had consulted when formulating their proposal.

He also demonstrated a troubling lack of certainty about established procedures concerning landing with a tailwind.

[EXCERPT FROM SHORTEN AND ALBANESE PRESS CONFERENCE]

     Journalist: Is it not true that flights and aircraft have to fly into the wind if it is greater than 10 knots – so if you get a big southerly coming through, how on earth are you going to land?

     Mr Albanese: No it’s not – these days technology has gotten a lot better.

In fact CASA rules recommend a maximum five knot tailwind in dry conditions but zero in wet conditions. It all points to an opposition with no plan, and which is not fit to govern.

The Turnbull Government recognises the benefits that the Western Sydney Airport will bring for the local community, which include more jobs and greater economic prosperity.

We are also committed to having the best available noise mitigation arrangements.

We are listening to the strong advocacy of Western Sydney MPs Louise Markus, Fiona Scott and Russell Matheson.

We are now working through around 5000 submissions as we develop a final EIS, including our plan to address these issues.