Additional Comments from the Australian Labor Party and the Australian Greens

Additional Comments from the Australian Labor Party and the Australian Greens

Approval by Minister

We remain concerned that the 'deemed approval' provisions within the Act are potentially open to manipulation. The reason given that in the beginning, airport development companies required surety of their investment is no longer relevant, especially since in the decade since the Act was established, this 'deemed approval' has never been used.

We remain concerned that these provisions may, in the future, have the potential to be manipulated, and are satisfied that in the past decade there has been no use of these provisions, therefore the 'deemed approval' provision is no longer required in the Act.

We recommend that the following be added:

The non-government Senators are not satisfied that the 'deemed approval' provisions provided for under sections 81(5), 94(6) and 126(5) are necessary and recommend that these sections be amended to result in a 'refusal' rather than an 'approval' at the end of the period of days available for consideration.

Consecutive projects

We believe that the amendments outlined in Item 74, to aggregate developments, are a positive step in improving airport development planning processes. However we would rather the provision require that the Minister determine that specified developments constitute a major airport development, rather than indicating that the Minister may determine.

The non-government Senators believe that the extension of the Minister's power to aggregate developments under section 89 should be set out as a requirement in the Act rather than allow the Minister the discretion to aggregate developments.

Committee view

The non-government Senators consider that the public consultation process will be much improved if airport-lessee companies, as part of the public comment process, make available to the general public copies of assessments undertaken to assess the social, environment and economic impacts of the development.

We recommend that the following be added:

Environmental, social and economic impact assessment should be conducted and should be made available to stakeholders and the public before conclusion of public consultation.

 

Senator Kerry O'Brien
Senator for Tasmania 		Senator Glenn Sterle
Senator for Western Australia 		Senator Anne McEwen
Senator for South Australia
     
Senator Christine Milne
Senator for Tasmania 		Senator Rachel Siewert
Senator for Western Australia 		 

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