Since the opening of Brisbane's second runway in 2020, Brisbane residents now suffer from the worst flight noise in the country. 

The Greens are the only party fighting for action on flight noise like a noise cap, curfew, and more flights over the water instead of your home – just like Sydney Airport has.

For four years, Labor and the LNP have blocked all real progress and are instead choosing the profits of Brisbane Airport Corporation, Qantas and Virgin over the wellbeing of the people of Brisbane. 

Brisbane Airport has one of the worst noise abatement plans in the developed world and it is run to maximise profit at the expense of Brisbane residents and the environment. Even for those not affected by flight noise, the major party’s inaction on the issue is an important insight into the power big corporations can wield over people’s lives and the legal system that allows them to do it.  

We know this fight won’t just be won in parliament, but must also be won in the broader community.

Since being elected in 2022, I’ve worked alongside the BFPCA to stand up for community concerns in Canberra, where I’m using my position to push for legislative change to: 

• Implement a 10pm-6am night-time curfew 
• A total cap on flights at 45 flights per hour
• A new long-term operating plan that prioritises more flights over the water

These noise abatement measures operate successfully in other communities in close proximity to airports- including at Sydney Airport. Yet the Labor Minister for Infrastructure has so far ruled out entertaining these reasonable solutions – apparently, a curfew or a cap on flights is good enough for Sydney residents, but not Brisbane.

Change doesn’t happen overnight, and it’s especially hard when Labor and the Liberals are seemingly hellbent on supporting the corporate interests of the Brisbane Airport Corporation instead of everyday Australians, who just want to live their lives in peace and quiet.

In the face of this unending opposition, and with the support of community groups, we’ve been able to:

• Introduce our flight noise bill to parliament, calling for a curfew, cap on flights and more flights over the water
• Establish the first Senate inquiry into aircraft noise, which grilled industry CEOs and heard from hundreds of Brisbane locals about the need for real change. 
• Move for the government to consider a cap just like Sydney Airport has. Labor voted against even considering a cap and a curfew (and the LNP didn’t even turn up!).
• Helped uncover Airservices’ sham ‘full runway trial’ at Brisbane Airport, where the goal was to get planes to climb higher over peoples’ homes (thus reducing noise), but height markers used for navigation weren’t actually increased.
• March on Brisbane Airport alongside over a thousand fellow impacted members of the community, in the largest protest against flight noise in Australia in decades
• Finally secure a win - forcing the government to change Brisbane Airport’s operation rules to send hundreds more flights over the water rather than the homes of residents (SODROPS).

Without the Greens, we would have no voice for flight noise in Parliament. The battle for a genuine cap and curfew isn’t over, and I won’t be giving up. With the community and our Greens representatives working together, we’ve taken the first steps to genuine change. 

I send email newsletters about flight noise regularly to help keep the community up to date on this campaign. Sign up on this page to follow along and learn how you can help build the pressure.