Madeleine Bower

Anthony Albanese has declared the new Western Sydney International airport the nation’s best and applauded the former Coalition government for keeping the site in public hands.

“This is an absolutely extraordinary day,” the prime minister said on Sunday at the official opening of the airport at Badgerys Creek in Sydney’s west, the culmination of decades of planning and political consternation over a location.

“This is not Sydney’s second airport. This is not even Western Sydney’s best airport. This is Australia’s best airport.”

The more than 40 years since the Badgerys Creek land was acquired by the Hawke government had been worth the wait, Albanese said.

He complimented former Liberal prime ministers Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison – who were both present for the opening – for keeping the airport public.

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As a former infrastructure minister and later shadow minister, Albanese was heavily involved in the airport’s construction from…