O'Farrell still opposed to second airport despite Melbourne deal Premier Barry O'Farrell has refused to budge from his opposition to a second Sydney airport at Badgerys Creek after Victoria announced it would build a second international airport. The governments of Australia and the Philippines have signed an agreement opening the way for direct flights to and from Avalon airport, 56 kilometres south-west of Melbourne. After signing a $30 million tourism marketing partnership with Qantas on Monday, Mr O'Farrell was quick to point out Victoria's planned second international airport was not in Melbourne proper. "It is an airport at Geelong," he said. Geelong's about as far from Melbourne as Wyong is from Sydney as Springwood is from Sydney as Bulli is from Sydney. What we need to do ... is make better use of Sydney Airport. My position is clear and the position is that aviation - a second airport for Sydney - is a matter for the federal government and neither the federal opposition nor the federal government have put a single dollar towards what Mr Albanese's own report says is a $9 billion-to-$11 billion cost to replicate Mascot. Mr O'Farrell said the Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese was whipping up debate over a second airport to help win back his seat of Grayndler. Mr Albanese continued to stress Sydney's need for a second airport "sooner rather than later." However, he has yet to nominate a location or any federal funds for it to be built. "It is vital for jobs, economic growth and Sydney's future as a global city," he said. We are already seeing the economic impact at Sydney. In 2011, Sydney's growth for international flights was only one quarter of the growth of Melbourne. Mr Albanese is due to release a scoping study into Wilton as a possible location for a second airport before the budget. The study is expected to show the location is not viable, leaving Badgerys Creek as the only realistic option. Trent Zimmerman, acting chief executive Tourism and Transport Forum, said Sydney needs a second airport and "Badgerys Creek is the logical site for that airport." As part of a three-year deal totalling $30 million, Qantas and the NSW government will each invest $15 million in marketing campaigns to promote Sydney and regional NSW to overseas tourists. Qantas has diverted much of its share from Tourism Australia to NSW's tourism body Destination NSW, as the breakdown in relations between the airline's chief executive, Alan Joyce, and his former mentor, Geoff Dixon, shows no signs of ending. Mr Joyce said it would be "by far the biggest" of Qantas's contributions to a state tourism body - money which would have previously gone to Tourism Australia. The partnership will include international advertising and marketing campaigns, and activities focused on major events, starting in September. Mr O'Farrell welcomed the agreement, saying it was "about delivering more tourists and creating more jobs and economic growth in NSW." Qantas's decision to partner with state bodies follows the breakdown in the relationship between Mr Joyce and Mr Dixon late last year. with Jacob Saulwick