NSW Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres is “gutted” with the Sydney train stoppages on “such an important day” that saw tourists return.

Emotional reunions were rife at Sydney airport after the first international flights touched down in Australia after 704 days.

Minister Ayres told Deborah Knight the government rejects claims from the union that they are to blame for the train stoppage.

“If there was ever a day in the entire calendar the NSW government wanted the train system to be functioning it was today.”

Mr Ayres says the timing is taking advantage of an election being just around the corner.

“I don’t think you should be putting politics before people,” he said.

“We have to do much better than this.

“These are peoples lives we’re dealing with.”

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