Media Release

KAP Leader and the Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter is outraged at hearing the Federal Government is considering plans to close the Cairns, Sydney and Adelaide air traffic control towers and move the service to Melbourne and Brisbane to be operated remotely – a decision that would decimate local jobs and put safety at risk.

Mr Katter is appalled by the Government’s lack of concern for aviation safety especially at the Cairns Airport, which is the major airport hub for domestic and international flights into Mr Katter’s electorate of Kennedy.

“Closing air traffic control towers at the Cairns, Sydney and Adelaide airports is outrageous – people will die as a result of these changes – there will be no doubt about that.

“Cairns is one of the most dangerous airports in the world. It’s got 5000 foot mountains that come straight up out of the coastal and inland plains and cyclonic winds are normal during the monsoonal season. But despite this we have an airport that has a very enviable safety record.

“You can have all of the machinery, the remote control and all of the information that you like –but computers cannot do what actual pilots and air traffic controllers can do. There is too much room for error with remotely operated towers,” Mr Katter said.

Mr Katter is also concerned at the estimated 15 job losses in Cairns – a region already doing it tough.

“I will fight for every single job in North Queensland,” Mr Katter said.

“Cairns has been hit by the GFC, the Government pushing up the dollar and the 1000 jobs lost from the Cairns Hinterland with the closure of Kagara.

"This follows the closing of our fishing, timber, prawn and fish farming industries.

“FNQ has taken one hell of a blow,” Mr Katter said.

“When the LNP comes in to power, North Queensland gets wiped like a dirty rag and this is just another nail on the coffin.

“The Government doesn't care about the jobs in North Queensland, they care about their bottom line, at a cost to people’s lives.

“There needs to be more fighters on this– the capital cities get more jobs and we North Queenslanders get less,” Mr Katter said.

Mr Katter has submitted a formal Question With Notice to the Prime Minister.

“We are putting the Prime Minister on notice; we want an answer– are you going to do it or are you not going to do it?”