Elizabeth Watson-Brown (Ryan, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Brisbane is being sold off, and we are getting absolutely nothing for it. Labor and the LNP are using the Olympics to enrich their big developer mates. Here are six pieces of public land that are being given away to private developers (1) the Brisbane athletes village at the RNA Showgrounds has been sold off to corporate developer Lendlease, (2) the $2.3 billion Gabba arena has been funded by a giant asset sale of nine hectares of public land, (3) the 7.1 hectare Visy site has been sold or leased to private developers, (4) the 100 hectares of public land at Hamilton Northshore have been sold off or leased to private developers, (5) the Gold Coast athletes village and Sunshine Coast athletes village will receive a share of $3.5 billion in public funding to subsidise private developers, and (6) the LNP council are privatising the Brisbane Riverstage.

We're already seeing the Olympics driving up house prices. Locals are paying more rent than ever and getting outbid at auctions by property speculators, but Labor and the LNP say they can't do anything about it. Banks, property developers and property speculators—that's who the major parties really care about—are making more money than ever off everyday people.

Talking of bad development, Brisbane Airport's draft 2026 master plan is very bad news for Brisbane. It forecasts a huge increase in flights, making noise and emissions impacts on residents even worse. It also includes longer term plans for more overnight freight operations and flying taxis that will clog our skies. It forecasts a 70 per cent increase in total aircraft movements by 2046, including more than doubling the number of international flights, which are usually on larger and noisier aircraft. This far outpaces predicted population growth. It will also double the number of flights during peak periods, exacerbating the very worst impacts of aircraft noise.

There are no plans to address the larger noise impact created by the massive increase in aircraft movements. Brisbane Airport and Airservices Australia are already managing noise very poorly, as found by independent assessors, so the lack of any plan for this is absolutely appalling to see. The plan also includes plans for vertical take-off and landing aircraft, also known as flying taxis. Who is asking for this? It's certainly not the people of Brisbane, who do not want these vehicles further clogging our skies for the convenience of the ultrawealthy. The minister must reject the master plan and send Brisbane Airport back to the drawing board.

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