Wednesday, 13 November 2024

Melbourne Airport

Nick McGOWAN (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (18:12): (1277) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events. Recently I had the great pleasure of re-entering the great state of Victoria, except to say it was not a great pleasure.

Harriet Shing interjected.

Nick McGOWAN: I know, Minister Shing, it is quite disappointing to hear that. I will tell you what: if you have ever been through customs at Melbourne Airport, you know it is like – I would say Third World, but in actual fact I have been in a lot of the Third World and it is positively first rate compared to Melbourne Airport. Melbourne Airport is without question quite possibly one of the worst, most ugly dog’s breakfasts of an operation. It used to be a beautiful airport that used to combine domestic and international.

A member interjected.

Nick McGOWAN: Forget the rail connection; I am not the slightest bit interested, personally, because they have messed it up so badly. I mean, you are going into a dungeon of an airport, so if you are international and it is your first introduction to Melbourne, it is shocking. You get off that plane, you take one look, you turn back around and say, ‘Listen, do you mind if I just sit here while they clean and I’ll go right back out of here.’ It is an embarrassment. Making matters worse, under the federal government now, customs was just a debacle. You had people and systems not working. There are not enough scanners for the passports. There were kids separated from their parents – the kids were on one side of the aisle while the parents were on the other side.

A member interjected.

Nick McGOWAN: This is the federal government’s fault, Minister. I am glad you asked. I am very glad you asked. This is the Albanese government’s fault. They are horrendous. They are terrible. We know that. We will discuss that later. I am happy to take time and even have a cup of tea with you and talk about this.

But my central point here is that for every person who comes to our beautiful state, their entry to Victoria is a squalor of an airport which over the years has deteriorated to such an extent. It once had pride of place in this state, but that is long gone. It is a like a box-style DFO. That is the best thing I can say about it really. It is a DFO, except it does not come with DFO prices. I do not know who is shopping at Armani and Gucci, but it is certainly not me, I can tell you. I am exiting or entering.

Members interjecting.

Nick McGOWAN: You would never tell by the way I dress; I know, Minister. You would never tell by the way I dress. I am dressed quite fine. I have even got a jacket on today, but that is because I have such respect for the international visitors who come to our state. Unlike the government of Victoria, who clearly do not care what the impression is when people come to this state, I do. So I am asking the minister dearly, Minister Dimopoulos, please, you understand what it is like for people to come from far afield. Well, if this is the first time they see the great state of Victoria, it is very embarrassing. Please, even just put up a poster. I will put up a poster. I will tell you what, Minister: if you like, I will pay for the poster and I will put it up myself. I will try and avoid the people who work there, because I have not been too kind to them tonight. Apologies to them. I know it is not their individual responsibility. But in addition to the customs facility, in addition to the ambience, in addition to the low ceilings, the dark hallways and the absolute shambles – I would use a swearword, but I am not going to do that – that is customs with the green lane and the red lane, for the love of God, Minister, please would you sort out Melbourne Airport. It is an international embarrassment to us all. We deserve a truly beautiful airport. We are far from that.

The PRESIDENT: I think that it is on the record, but it is definitely a federal issue, so just leave it out, I think, Mr McGowan, or do you want it on the record anyway? Mr Davis, if you can do one for 20 seconds.