Tony Windsor (New England, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister and relates to the draft Productivity Commission report titled Review of price regulation of airport services. Are you aware that the report recommends that some regional airline slots into Sydney Airport be replaced by international or domestic airlines, with regional airlines to be moved to Bankstown? In 2001 the then Minister for Transport and Regional Services said:

We—

the government—

have guaranteed that regional airlines will continue to have access to Sydney Airport, and our guarantee is solid.

The minister went on to say:

Our guarantee on regional access will not be affected by the privatisation of Sydney Airport.

Prime Minister, given that there are great concerns about so-called privatisations and guarantees, will you today squash the recommendation of the Productivity Commission?

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