Senator CALVERT(3.21 p.m.) —I find it unusual with all the questions that were asked today that we have to come in here and listen to a series of allegations.

Senator Robert Ray —About ministers abusing their office.

Senator CALVERT —That is all they are—allegations. Given the record of your government about these sorts of things, about which you would know—using charter aircraft to go and open dog shows and when you got there the dog show had finished—

Senator Robert Ray —You were making it a relevant thing three years ago.

Senator CALVERT —I do not condone any of that at all. But the fact of the matter is that you are saying things here today about Sydney airport. I know it is a favourite subject of Senator Forshaw, but Senator Ferguson and I just happen to have had two days up there last week.

Senator Robert Ray —Up where?

Senator CALVERT —At Sydney airport. We were listening to evidence from the Lane Cove action group, from people from Leichhardt, Barry Cotter from Marrickville—who gave us a very good dissertation on what is going on—and the No Aircraft Noise Party. In fact, we asked questions about what has happened. I observed at first hand that after about 11 o'clock the whole operation switched to the east-west runway and continued that way until about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. I asked some of the people who were giving evidence, and who were obviously biased against aircraft noise, if this sharing of the noise had made any difference and they said, yes, it had.

But, for the information of honourable senators who are very concerned about aircraft noise at Sydney airport, the thing that interested me was that the noise remediation program that was instigated by the former government and continued by this government seems to be working quite well. In fact, we met one particular person who chose to buy a house in the flight path at Sydenham about four years ago, and he has done very nicely. By his own admission, he has had a capital gain of $60,000 on his home.

I was going to raise the particular matter, which people here today have been talking about, of so-called slot times. I might be wrong but, in evidence given to us at the aircraft noise hearing the other day, we were told that one of the things that Sydney airport and the FAC were looking at and going to use to reduce the noise were slot times; they were going to introduce slot times so that aircraft can do as they do at Heathrow airport from—

Senator Robert Ray —I bet you've never jumped a queue. I bet you never have.

Senator CALVERT —No.

Senator Robert Ray —No! Absolutely, you wouldn't.

Senator CALVERT —I would not know how to use a mobile phone, for a start.

Senator Carr —That'd be right. And they made you whip!

Senator Bob Collins —I've heard that Tasmanian senators don't know how to use mobile phones.

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT —Order on my left! Senator Calvert, would you direct your response through the chair.

Senator CALVERT —I just thought that those honourable senators opposite might be interested to know that there were moves afoot to introduce slot times at Sydney airport in an attempt to reduce the noise, as happens at Heathrow airport with a parallel runway system. One of the Qantas pilots told me once why it happens in Sydney the way it does. A lot of the noise is caused by the fact that they do not get a glide path far enough out and they cannot glide in.

Senator Robert Ray —When were you at Heathrow?

Senator CALVERT —This particular aircraft pilot was telling me that when you fly into Heathrow airport you can come in from 15 miles out.

Senator Bob Collins —Is this in defence of the minister?

Senator CALVERT —I am just trying to give you some information on how this government is trying to alleviate noise at Sydney airport. As Senator Collins would know—

Senator Bob Collins interjecting—

Senator CALVERT —Madam Deputy President, don't I get any protection from the chair at all?

Senator Carr —No!

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT —Order! Senator Carr!

Senator CALVERT —Here I am trying to give some very important information to the opposition, who do not seem to know anything about aircraft or airports. Senator Collins should know that in a charter aircraft you can use a mobile phone. Obviously Mr Sharp was doing that. The rest of what we have heard today are only allegations. Surely to goodness, until we have further proof, it was a waste of half an hour of government business time today.