Senator Deborah O’Neill NEW SOUTH WALES Mr Greg Moriarty Secretary Department of Defence R1-5-B Secretary Suite Department of Defence PO Box 7901 CANBERRA BC ACT 2610, Australia Dear Secretary Moriarty, 1am writing to you in my capacity as Labor Duty Senator for the Electorate of Riverina regarding the lease of the Wagga Wagga City Airport by Wagga Wagga City Council from the Department of Defence. understand the Wagga Wagga City Council currently pays $150,000 to lease the airport from the Department of Defence per year for use of the airport. Given that the Defence Department 8udget is $37.3 billion, the $150,000 annual fee would be an insignificant thing for the Department to forgo and would make a huge difference to the City of Wagga Wagga who could spend that money instead on their provision of local amenities. | acknowledge the importance of the RAAF base at the Wagga Wagga Airport is but | believe the community would be best served by transferring the ownership of the facilities to the. local Council, or failing that a far smaller annual fee for its use. |, and the people of Wagga Wagga would appreciate your advice on this matter and look forward to your response. Yours sincerely Doro At/ DEBORAH O'NEILL LABOR SENATOR FOR NSW 13/09/19!Moriarty/LOC Phone : (02) 4367 4565. Fax + (02) 4367 3505 Olfice + Suite 32, The Platinum Building, 4 Ilya Avenue, Erina Mail ~ PO Box 3627 Fountain Plaza, Frina NSW 2250 nail : Senator.O'Neill@aph gov.2u