My question is to the Prime Minister. Yesterday, Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport officially opened. How does this generational infrastructure project deliver for the dynamic, growing economy of Western Sydney and the whole of Australia as a nation?

I thank the member for Werriwa for her question and for her advocacy for the Western Sydney international airport. It is something that was backed by many members of this House across both sides of parliament and something that I worked quite closely with the member for Riverina on when he was the minister, as well as with ministers like Paul Fletcher. Yesterday was a dream come true for so many Australians who thought that it was just that—a dream and that there wouldn't be a second airport in Western Sydney. But, at 11 am, JQ362 took off from the brand-new Western Sydney international airport to the Gold Coast. It was the first passenger flight. At 7.28 am today, the first international passenger flight arrived, from Auckland.

This was, of course, a long time coming. Chifley talked about a second airport for Sydney. In 1986 the Hawke government chose Badgerys Creek to be its home. So this was a vision that was 40 years in the making, shared and driven by so many and now delivered. There were 15 years of planning, seven years of construction, 13,000 workers on that project and thousands of workers ongoing. They have an enormous sense of pride in their contribution to a historic Australian infrastructure project—a lasting legacy of generations. I spoke to many of the workers there, as I have on other visits when it was a construction site. They will have such pride when they go to the airport knowing that they helped build it. It will give them that sense of identity.

Can I say this. With due respect to every other airport right around Australia, including the one right next to my electorate, this is without doubt the best airport in Australia—without doubt. It has new technology. It is world's best practice. It is an architectural masterpiece. One of the things that they've done is use products that represent Australia, whether it be sandstone from the Central Coast or wood and pieces of Australia, as part of the construction. It is very much an Australian airport. The important thing is that it's not just an airport. What it does is turn Sydney westward rather than just towards the east and the harbour. It is creating jobs. The Aerotropolis is there, together with the Moorebank Intermodal Precinct. It will be a dynamic part of growth and jobs for Western Sydney. I congratulate everyone who worked on the project for such a long period of time.

on indulgence—I associate myself with the Prime Minister's comments of support for the new Western Sydney airport. I was delighted to be there in my own seat, the great seat of Hume, yesterday to see the first plane take off and carry passengers from that airport. It is a magnificent development—there's no question about that. It is a real milestone for Western Sydney. Not only will it create great transport options; it is an extraordinary opportunity for development of the new city in Western Sydney that is developing every day. Every single day I see it in my own electorate.

I pay tribute to the many that have been involved. I particularly want to call out the decision that was made back in April 2014—and I was on that call with local members at the time. When we received the call, it was a Tuesday night in April 2014. Tony Abbott called us all and said, 'We're going to proceed with this.' Of course, this had been talked about for many decades, but to bite the bullet and do it was an extraordinary thing, with $5 billion of investment at the time. Can I say that the project has come in on budget, which is pretty extraordinary through that timeframe. There were also billions of dollars of infrastructure investment in the Northern Road and Elizabeth Drive. I know the member for Lindsay strongly supported those investments as well. There is still much work to do to make the most of it there, and we know that. I think everyone knows that, but I'll be there alongside others to make sure we absolutely do. Well done to all involved.