Rudd Labor’s plan to save seats, rather than reduce aircraft noise
26th May, 2010
The delayed introduction of a new navigation system to reduce aircraft noise around Sydney Airport is all about getting Labor past the upcoming Federal and State elections, Shadow Transport Minister Warren Truss said today. “This is a political fix for the ALP rather than a noise fix for the people of Sydney,” said Mr Truss.
“The NSW Premier Kristina Keneally has already lobbied Transport Minister Anthony Albanese. The Federal Member for Bennelong, Maxine McKew, has no doubt been in his ear too. And Mr Albanese is utterly compromised – his own nearby seat of Grayndler is under attack from the Greens.
“All of them are more worried about their own jobs than the health and lifestyles of the people of Sydney.
“The system has already been successfully trialled in Brisbane. It offers major reductions in noise because planes can descend at a constant rate with engines at idle.
“The system offers fuel savings - $20 million a year for Qantas alone. And it is good for the environment, reducing CO2 emissions by 630 kilograms every landing. The system is expected to save half a million tonnes of CO2 emissions in Europe by 2013.
“There is much to consider here and of course the Government must explain the system and consult with local communities about noise issues. But this decision smells of yet another example of the Rudd Government acting secretly but being too frightened to explain its decisions to the electorate.
“The Government has actually ordered the new system for Sydney before it even bothered to tell the local communities. No wonder people living near the airport are suspicious.
“The former Coalition government introduced noise sharing arrangements at Sydney Airport in 1997, which worked. An incoming Coalition government will not increase the cap of 80 movements per hour and we will not lift the curfew at Sydney Airport.
“Nor will we agree to changes in flight paths at Sydney which increase noise levels – whether the electorates are marginal or not,” Mr Truss said.
