On Monday 1 September 2025, I made a speech about how high-speed rail could reduce flight noise
Transcript:
Ms WATSON-BROWN (Ryan) (10:30): Why is it easier to imagine doubling the number of flights than building high-speed rail, or to imagine flying cars or drone taxis rather than a properly funded, fast, frequent, connected public transport network? It's because both major parties are completely captured by the aviation industry, with no regard for sensible alternatives to the unchecked growth of aviation. The government's aviation white paper set out the future of Australian aviation to 2050. High-speed rail was mentioned not once in the 240-page report—not once. Extraordinary! Brisbane Airport recently released their draft master plan that's meant to cover the next two decades to 2046. They predict a doubling of the number of flights. Where is this demand coming from? It far outstrips predicted population growth over the same period.
This is the result of policy choices not providing alternatives. We all know that the routes among Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are some of the busiest air corridors in the world. Instead of doubling the number of flights, along with the carbon emissions and noise pollution they produce, there's no reason we couldn't instead have east coast high-speed rail by 2046.