Albanese Government’s Sydney Airport Reforms Spark Controversy Over Consultation Process

Shadow Minister for Infrastructure Senator Bridget McKenzie has criticised the Albanese government’s plan to reform Sydney Airport’s management of takeoffs and landings per hour—known as slots—without public consultation. “It has taken the collapse of two regional airlines before the Albanese Government decided to act, and even then, Labor were dragged to the table,” The amendment bill, introduced to revise the Sydney Airport Demand Management Act 1997, aims to address flight cancellations and delays that have adversely impacted Australia’s domestic aviation sector. However, McKenzie contends that the government’s approach undermines public scrutiny. “After two years of sitting on the Minister’s desk, it is insulting for the government to say this matter must be dealt with in a few weeks with limited community scrutiny,” she added....