Melissa McIntosh (Lindsay, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Western Sydney is a powerhouse. We make stuff and we build things. We're building our future, headlined by Australia's biggest infrastructure project, Western Sydney international airport. Construction of the passenger terminal has begun. I was so delighted to welcome the Prime Minister to mark the occasion. It is the best in the country and will make travelling to and from Western Sydney a seamless experience. I'm so excited that we've reached this important milestone because I know what it means for local families and local businesses.

Much like Nancy Bird Walton, this project is a pioneer that will change the game for generations ahead, charting a new path and opening new opportunities. The airport will harness the hard work and aspiration of people in my community and turn it into more local jobs, more markets and more opportunities for small business, showcasing the very best of Western Sydney to the world. For people, families and businesses in my electorate, this means more local jobs for local people, now and for generations to come. The airport has smashed its local employment targets through the construction phase, employing people in my community and injecting more than $100 million into our local economy. Around 11,000 jobs will be created in the construction phase alone. I look forward to seeing this trajectory continue, including when it opens in 2026.