State premiers have written to Prime Minister John Howard demanding the federal government hand over control of the planning of retail malls and other non-aviation developments at airports.
The Labor leaders have told the prime minister they are worried about plans being approved under the Airports Act, which lets the federal government rule on proposed developments at 22 privatised airports.
WA Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said ministers had expressed concern about the impact of those developments on metropolitan planning and surrounding communities.
"We are asking the Howard Government to spell out the planning framework by which it assesses development proposals," she said.
"Last year, the Ministers asked for State and local government planning and environmental policies to apply to non-aviation development on airport land.
"The Commonwealth's response is to make things worse, by moving to amend the Airports Act by halving the consultation period for any new project from 90 days to 45 days, then allowing only another 45 days for the Federal Minister to look at the proposal - otherwise, if no decision is made, the project is deemed approved," Ms MacTiernan said
In the letter, the states say they want the laws revised so that controversial non-aviation proposals on airport land are controlled by state planning laws and policies.
"The current approval regime for proposed non-aviation related development does not adequately take into account whether a proposed development is consistent with land uses in surrounding areas or the potential impact of a proposed development on existing metropolitan centres, public transport and other state-provided infrastructure servicing the airport," the letter to Mr Howard says.