Broadmeadows MP Frank McGuire has accused the Napthine government of being “negligent” by not stopping the controversial grab for Melbourne Airport by supporters of Sunbury’s secession from Hume.
Community leaders, Hume council and Melbourne Airport management have confirmed the importance of the airport to the economy of Melbourne’s north and the good working relationship between the airport and the current Hume council.
But Sunbury-out-of-Hume advocates argue Sunbury was the ‘traditional owner’ of the airport prior to the Kennett-era council amalgamations that saw the town become part of the new city of Hume.
“The Coalition government has been negligent in allowing the debate to run,” Mr McGuire told Parliament.
“It has turned into a tug of war between Hume council and the breakaway faction over Melbourne airport. The risks are too high for authority over Melbourne Airport to be handed over to a new council without the experience or nous to deal with the complexity of such a major and significant asset.”
Mr McGuire said the government had allowed itself to become embroiled in controversy because of an election promise prior to winning power in 2010.
“The action I seek is an end to the triumph of politics over common sense in the Coalition’s pre-election promise,” Mr McGuire said.
The promise he referred to was extracted from the incoming Liberal government by former state upper house MP Donna Petrovich, who stood down from the Victorian Parliament last year to contest the federal seat of McEwen in September.
She is now the Liberal candidate for the Labor-held state seat of Macedon.
“Given the folly of this debate, the airport’s future has ended up being argued throughout the area, with claims it should be handed over and that the rate base and money it provides – more than $10 million – should be given to this new council, if it emerges,” Mr McGuire said.
Resident groups in Broadmeadows and Tullamarine have also called on the Premier to stop the disruption.
Broadmeadows Progress Association spokeswoman Sonja Rutherford said the groups had asked to meet both Dr Napthine and Labor leader Daniel Andrews to present them with a petition and discuss details.
Both leaders referred the request to relevant ministers and Mrs Rutherford said Local Government Minister Tim Bull had said a meeting would be organised “soon”. Mrs Rutherford said the two resident groups would meet at Broadmeadows Global Learning Centre on Saturday to finalise the petition.
Meanwhile, the government panel appointed to oversee the division of assets between Hume and the new shire was due to hand in its long-awaited report to the minister on Monday.
