Albanese Government takes next steps to reform competition at Sydney Airport

The Albanese Government is reforming the aviation sector, introducing legislation to Parliament today to further reform the allocation of slots at Sydney Airport.

The changes introduced through this legislation were recommended by the Harris Review and will:

• improve efficiency and competition by delivering new civil penalty provisions for failing to use a slot, applying for slots with no reasonable prospects of using them, and failing to return or transfer unused slots. 
• replace the current compliance and enforcement regime with one that is based on modern, international standards.
• reform the Compliance Committee to ensure it can provide independent advice to the government to effectively inform compliance action.
• deliver new transparency powers to support the strengthened compliance and enforcement regime, including giving the government power to compel airlines to produce information on slot usage and
• allow the government to make changes to get increased access for new entrants and more access for NSW regional airlines.

Community protections will be maintained, with no changes to the existing curfew arrangements or the overall daily movement cap at Sydney Airport.

This follows reform work already underway, including an independent audit of slot usage and an open, competitive tender to select the slot manager.

These reforms will increase Sydney Airport’s resilience by introducing a recovery period, which will be used following major disruptions such as severe weather events. 

This will temporarily permit an extra five movements per hour for a maximum of two hours following the disruption. 

Only flights already scheduled to operate on that day will be able to take off or land, and the recovery period will not extend into the curfew hours, meaning this will not increase the number of movements at Sydney Airport across the whole day. 

What it will mean is the aviation network can recover and return to schedule faster, so travellers can reach their destinations on time. 

These reforms are all about delivering better outcomes for the travelling public, by supporting an efficient, resilient and competitive Sydney Airport, and we look forward to the opposition’s support for the legislation.

From better monitoring airline performance and pricing to improving outcomes for travellers with disabilities and creating the first Aviation Industry Ombuds Scheme – the Albanese Government is undertaking the most significant aviation reform agenda in a decade, delivering reforms that were left in the too hard basket by the previous government.

Along with the opening of Western Sydney International Airport in 2026, this reform package will enable a more competitive, transparent and productive aviation network for years to come.