Greens leader Adam Bandt is set to introduce a private member's bill in federal parliament in a bid to legislate a curfew and hourly flight cap for Brisbane Airport, following more than a year of noise issues.
Brisbane Airport Corporation has previously strongly rejected the idea of a curfew, but last month agreed to trial several operational changes to reduce aircraft noise over the city.
The agreed changes follow a long-running campaign from inner-Brisbane residents over flight noise, which prompted Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and local LNP MP Trevor Evans to step in ahead of the federal election.
Cut-offs, limits and reviews
But the Greens, who are campaigning heavily in the Labor-held seat of Griffith, say that's not enough and the airport needs a curfew.
The airport has always had a large noise buffer around its site, but Brisbane's rapid infill development and booming population has put increasing pressure on it over noise and amenity issues.
Titled the Brisbane Airport Curfew and Demand Management Act 2022, Mr Bandt's bill will be brought to the House of Representatives on Monday.
The proposed curfew would prevent Brisbane Airport from operating between 10pm and 6am, except for emergency aircraft.
It would also limit the airport to 45 flights per hour, and require Mr Joyce, as Infrastructure and Transport Minister, to develop a long-term operating plan.
The long-term operating plan – similar to an existing Sydney Airport plan – would redirect flights over Moreton Bay and manage aircraft noise.
"The question Labor and the Liberals must answer is: if it's good enough for Sydney Airport, why is it not good enough for Brisbane?"
Max Chandler-Mather, the Greens candidate for Griffith, said he had spoken at length to Brisbane residents affected by flight noise and a long-term operating plan was a sensible course of action.
"Everyone should have the right to a good night's sleep, and that's impossible when flights are screeching over your house at 3am," he said.
The Greens' move comes days after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced a $200 million effort to fly more international visitors into the state by ramping up flight numbers.
Curfew rejected
In a submission to a major 855-home development application lodged late last year, Brisbane Airport cited its lack of curfew as a critical piece of the airport's success.
"Brisbane Airport is the preferred airport for various international carriers who depend on 24/7 access in order to participate in the Australian market," the airport's submission said.
"Any curfew or other restrictions on Brisbane Airport's operational capabilities will undermine Brisbane Airport's competitive advantage, diminish the airport's social and economic contribution to the local, state and national economy and its functions as a strategic airport."
