Ms King asked Riverina MP and federal Transport Minister Michael McCormack in Parliament's Federation Chamber on Thursday why the Department of Defence could not hand ownership of Wagga airport to Wagga City Council.

The council has previously asked Mr McCormack for help to resolve issues with the airport that are costing ratepayers about $200,000 a year in rent and obliges the council to upgrade an asset it does not own.

The Department of Defence, which also operates the RAAF base at Wagga airport, has a 30-year lease agreement with the council that expires in 2025.

"[Wagga] is a pretty flash-looking airport. I note that the local member there claims that he is not in favour of this airport being handed over to the council," Mr King told Parliament.

"The council is experiencing significant problems here and he has made the claim that the RAAF base will disappear from Wagga if the council has the airport.

"Of course we know that many local councils had airports handed to them over 30 years ago at no cost and the Wagga council is pretty keen for that to occur."

Ms King said she was "at a bit of a loss" as to why Mr McCormack did not think handing over airport ownership was a good idea when it had happened in other areas such as Newcastle.

"I see that great partnership over Newcastle airport between two councils that works very successfully and I would like to ask the Acting Prime Minister why he thinks that's not possible for an airport such as Wagga," Ms King said

Mr McCormack did not answer the question on Wagga airport as he ran out of time to respond during debate on a $5.7 billion budget bill for the Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development and Communications portfolios.

"My time is up, I am sorry about that because I had much more to say," Mr McCormack said.

Mr McCormack earlier this month said he did not support handing part of the Wagga airport to the council as it could see the Air Force "revisit their need to stay there in the future".

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