CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY EMBARGOED UNTIL DELIVERY
SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER
OPENING OF BRISBANE AIRPORT
BRISBANE 19 MARCH 1988
David Sullivan, Chairman, Federal Airports Corporation, Peter
Morris, Minister for Transport and Communication Support,
Premier Michael Ahern
Queensland has a proud history of involvement in Australian
aviation. Bert Hinkler put Bundaberg before the eyes of the
world; Qantas commenced regular operations from Charleville in
1922 and has grown to become a major force in world aviation; and
the famous association of Kingsford Smith and Ulm with Eagle Farm
and Brisbane is exemplified by the blue aircraft, emblazoned with
the Southern Cross, which is proudly on display not far from
here. Queensland's long association with aviation is not merely of
historic interest.
For if ever a country benefited from man's desire to fly, it was
Australia. A well serviced, stable civil aviation industry is
essential to our national life. It shrinks the distances between
our population centres and our industries, and brings us together
as a nation.
It is for this reason that many hundreds of millions of dollars
are spent annually by the Commonwealth government on maintaining
and developing airports and other aviation infrastructure, such
as the state-of-the-art facilities we see here today.
It is for this reason too that the Federal Government has
established the Federal Airports Corporation to manage the
nation's major airports in a professional and efficient fashion.
The full extent of Commonwealth expenditur e on civil aviation is
often not well recognised. Even after industry charges are
excluded, the Commonwealth is this year contributing some $ 330
million. The total cost of our involvement in building this new
airport has been about $ 425 million. 00516
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The new Brisbane airport is proof that the people of Queensland
and Australia are getting value for those substantial
expenditures: First, we have built an air terminal capable of handling
passenger traffic into the 21st century: up to 10,000
people an hour during peak times, or 7 million
passengers a year, can be accommodated comfortably here;
Second, we have built longer runways, to cater properly
for long distance international flights;
Third, we have brought an end to operational
restrictions, such as curfews, that retarded development
of Eagle Farm over the years, and
Fourth, we have installed state-of-the-art air traffic
control and safety facilities, to ensure Australia's
excellent record in aviation safety is maintained.
And in the long run, we have ensured that Brisbane.* nd Queensland
can fulfil their enormous potential for national and
international tourism.
That is especially important in our Bicentennial year.
In Queensland the Bicentennial means Expo the largest single
event in our Bicentennial calendar, and truly-a national event,
whose success I believe is assured.
With some 50 Governments and 20 corporations committed to attend,
Expo has generated enormous enthusiasm, both among Australians
and abroad.
This enthusiasm will be proven when the millions of visitors
start coming from interstate and overseas.
The State Government of course has a particularly significant
role in fostering the development of the range of facilities to
meet the demands of international and national tourists.
But it would have been difficult, to say the least, to cater for
their needs without an efficient and comfortable airport system.
Through the efforts of my Government and a committed workforce
and project group, Brisbane, and the nation, has that airport and
Expo's success is that much more assured.
This airport is a long term investment by my Government in the
future of Queensland. I have every confidence that it will
provide invaluable service well into the next century.
The people of Queensland and their visitors will from now on be
able to take advantage of an airport as good as any in the world.
With that confidence, it gives me great pleasure to declare the
new Brisbane International Airport open. 005 . I. 62