Page 1128 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 20 March 2013
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the city. I would hope that all members would be supportive of what has managed to have been pulled off there. We have worked very closely with the airport to make sure that, where we can and where we should, we have been able to assist with supporting the redevelopment. It is good for Canberra and it is good for the region. I think a lot of credit has to go to the Snow family for their preparedness to invest in very difficult financial circumstances and pull off such a wonderful outcome that no doubt will benefit them, as the owners of the airport, but will no doubt benefit the people of the ACT.
MADAM ACTING SPEAKER: Supplementary, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: That is very kind, Madam Acting Speaker. Chief Minister, when will we see regular international flights arriving at the new terminal?
MS GALLAGHER: I thank Mr Smyth for the question. As an election commitment, the government committed some additional resourcing to be able to attract and market new international flights. Certainly, in the discussions I have had with the airport they have been very pleased with the lead that the Treasurer has taken on this matter. I certainly mentioned it to the Virgin boss, John Borghetti, on the day of the opening—about how much we would like to see Virgin take the leap and deliver the first international flights to Canberra. He was not in a position to disclose his business plan thinking in front of a range of television cameras that day, but he certainly did not rule it out.
There is nothing to announce today, but everything that we can do is being done to work with the airport, through the major airlines, to convince them of the need to look at international flights to Canberra. I have no doubt that they will happen in time, but those announcements cannot be made by the Chief Minister, and will not be made by the Chief Minister, I imagine; they will be made when the airlines make those decisions.
MADAM ACTING SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Gentleman.
MR GENTLEMAN: Chief Minister, what plans does the government have to ensure that the airport continues to contribute to the growth of our economy?
MS GALLAGHER: I thank Mr Gentleman for the question. Clearly, one of the key areas there is the delivery of international services and international flights through the airport. That is why we have made an election commitment around attracting and marketing new international air services. That is why the Treasurer has been leading those discussions. That is why the Economic Development Directorate and Australian Capital Tourism have been working with the Canberra Airport Group.
But also I note the work that we have done around the Majura Parkway ensuring that we are opening up, essentially, a new freeway near the airport to support its growth as a regional freight hub. We are very supportive of that and the airport is very supportive of the Majura Parkway. So we continue to work with the airport to make sure that—
Mr Smyth interjecting—
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