IT'S hoped Barnaby Joyce can use his new transport portfolio to bring an end to the woes of regional airports, as they struggle to get slots into Sydney Airport.
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Regional airports across the state, including Tamworth and Armidale, have been plagued by a lack of peak-time slots into Sydney, along with cancelled or delayed flights.
Tamworth councillor Juanita Wilson said to continue fostering business opportunities, the city needed to be branded as a reliable destination by air.
“And I can assure we are not,” Cr Wilson said.
“Without reliable transport into Sydney, a lot of professionals will say ‘Tamworth is not a place I can do business’.
“I was speaking to someone a couple of days ago, who had been on a cruise. They docked in Sydney at 7am, and booked a flight at 3pm, to take into account a possible delay.
“That flight was delayed and they still didn’t get to Tamworth until 8.30pm – and that’s after planning ahead for a potential delay.”
Cr Wilson said Mr Joyce had “every right to step up” and tackle the issue.
“One would hope Barnaby’s new portfolio should bode well for us to have frontline conversations,” Cr Wilson said.
“I know he’s prepared to face issues head on and certainly does defend the regions. He knows how important this is to us.”
Politicians let stoush stay in the past
Last year, Mr Joyce was involved in a public stoush, when he was criticised by NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance for being “completely and utterly out of touch on what is required to drive regional aviation opportunities”.
“Barnaby Joyce quite frankly has his head in the sand,” Mr Constance said in March 2017.
At the time, Mr Joyce, the then federal Agriculture and Water Minister, hit back at his state colleague, saying Mr Constance would “do well to realise” that his ministry had no oversight of the laws governing aircraft slots at Sydney Airport.
“I’ve not received a word from this person, not a letter, not so much as a phone call – in fact, I wouldn’t know him if he stood up in my cornflakes,” Mr Joyce said.
However, the barb trading appears to be water under the bridge, with both politicians prepared for an open dialogue.
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A spokesperson for Mr Constance said the minister was looking forward to working with Mr Joyce on the issue.
“The minister strongly supports continued access to Sydney Airport by regional airlines and has called on the federal government to add extra slots at Sydney Airport for the exclusive use of regional routes,” they said.
Mr Constance has proposed increasing the hourly cap of slots into Sydney Airport from 80 to 85, and quarantining the five extra slots for regional flights.
To do this, the federal government must alter the Sydney Airport Management Act.
Mr Joyce is happy to look at all proposals that come across his desk, his spokesperson said.
“Access for regional NSW communities, including Tamworth and Armidale, to Sydney Airport is a priority for the Minister,” they said.
“Existing legislation guarantees ongoing regional intrastate access, including during peak times – however it also caps the number of slots available at Sydney Airport.
“The government is strongly committed to facilitating additional regional access to Sydney Airport where possible.”