Sydney Airport Demand Management Amendment Bill 2024 - Submission to the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs

We thank the Government for the introduction of this legislation to implement reforms to the Sydney Airport regulatory framework, which follows extensive consultation formally commencing from 2020 through the Harris Review.1 As a peak representative of businesses organisations in the visitor economy, the Chamber recognises the importance of having a competitive aviation sector – without this, trav. [...] The Chamber is supportive of measures to increase competition within the aviation sector and, accordingly, urges the Parliament to pass the Bill as soon as practicable. [...] A fundamental feature of the framework is managing the demand for airport infrastructure to mitigate congestion and facilitate the efficient operation of the airport. [...] Ministerial oversight Without withholding support for the passage of the Bill, the Chamber notes that the Ministerial functions and powers delivered through this legislation are significant in terms of administering the slot regime. [...] However, the increased transparency that will be delivered through additional reporting from the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE), the ACCC’s reinstated airline monitoring, and the forthcoming Productivity Commission inquiry into determinants of domestic airfares on routes to and between regional centres, are welcome steps, along with the establishment of the Aviat.