I warmly welcome news today that France's newly appointed Transport
Minister, Gilles de Robien, has promised to review future airport
plans that threaten Australian war graves in northern France.
Mr de Robien's constituency of Amiens lies at the heart of the
WWI battlefields and includes the site earmarked by the former Government
for the future airport.
Like his constituents, Mr de Robien strongly opposes the new airport
development and the adverse impact it would have on one of the most
historically significant wartime regions in Europe.
Mr de Robien has said that he doubts the usefulness of the proposed
airport and insists that the process must start from scratch.
Australia has strongly taken up this issue directly with the French
Government in recent weeks.
Now that the airport decision is being reviewed, we will again
make our objections clear. We will make every effort to ensure that
the graves of Australia's valiant war dead are afforded permanent
protection.
