On Thursday 12th March 2026, I made a speech on Brisbane Airport's draft 2026 master plan
Transcript:
Ms WATSON-BROWN (Ryan)
Brisbane Airport's draft 2026 master plan is very bad news for Brisbane. It forecasts a huge increase in flights, making noise and emissions impacts on residents even worse. It also includes longer term plans for more overnight freight operations and flying taxis that will clog our skies. It forecasts a 70 per cent increase in total aircraft movements by 2046, including more than doubling the number of international flights, which are usually on larger and noisier aircraft. This far outpaces predicted population growth. It will also double the number of flights during peak periods, exacerbating the very worst impacts of aircraft noise.
There are no plans to address the larger noise impact created by the massive increase in aircraft movements. Brisbane Airport and Airservices Australia are already managing noise very poorly, as found by independent assessors, so the lack of any plan for this is absolutely appalling to see. The plan also includes plans for vertical take-off and landing aircraft, also known as flying taxis. Who is asking for this? It's certainly not the people of Brisbane, who do not want these vehicles further clogging our skies for the convenience of the ultrawealthy. The minister must reject the master plan and send Brisbane Airport back to the drawing board.