Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese has talked up the economic benefits of a second Sydney airport during a western Sydney business forum - but wouldn't mention a possible location.
In a speech to the forum at Rosehill, Mr Albanese said with rising trade and tourism between Australia, India and China, a second airport was needed to cope with demand, but it wasn't possible to "squeeze" any more from Mascot airport.
"Sydney's existing airport simply can't meet this growth," Mr Albanese said.
"It is a major handbrake on our national economic productivity ... that needs fixing."
A 3200 page study, which Mr Albanese will release publicly in a few weeks, examines two potential locations.
Richmond, north of Penrith, is one of the potential sites, competing against Wilton, northwest of Wollongong.
Mr Albanese wouldn't hint about which was the more likely site, instead saying he would wait for the report to be handed down.
But he did speak about the economic impact it would have on western Sydney, a crucial region in determining who wins the September federal election.
"Not only are there the obvious jobs in the terminal and on the tarmac but the thousands of upstream jobs that supply the enormous variety of goods and services needed," he said.
"Generating local employment for local people is critical to obtaining a sustainable lifestyle and economy."
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