[Peetwo]

Sterlo on a mission on transport safety matters??

Reference the RRAT committee "Other Committee Activities" web page link: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Bus...Activities

Note that on top of the "Oversight of CASA" inquiry there has also been hearings into the "Oversight of the Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities", looking into road safety and heavy vehicle regulation:

Oversight of the Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities

Public Hearing

Monday 19 November 2018, Parliament House, Canberra, Program - (PDF 118KB), Hansard transcript - (PDF 124KB)
Monday 3 December 2018, Parliament House, Canberra, Program - (PDF 99KB)

Answers to Questions on Notice

Answers to Questions taken on Notice by Mr Bill McKinley, Chief of Staff, Australian Trucking Association, at a public hearing on 19 November 2018. Received on Friday 30 November 2018 - (PDF 675KB  )

Tabled Documents

Regulatory Impact Statement extracts (heavy vehicles), tabled by the Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities at a public hearing on 3 December 2018 - (PDF 12660KB https://www.aph.gov.au/~/media/Committee....pdf?la=en)

And yesterday there was a "Oversight of AMSA" public hearing...

Oversight of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority

Public Hearing

Tuesday 4 December 2018, Parliament House, Canberra, Program - (PDF 96KB)

Tabled Documents

Opening statement of Mr Mick Kinley, Australian Maritime Safety Authority, tabled at a public hearing on 4 December 2018 - (PDF 50KB)

   
..which the CEO of AMSA explained his understanding for the public hearing in the opening paragraph of his opening statement:

"..I understand the purpose of the hearing is to consider how AMSA has implemented headcounts and other safety measures, following the coronial findings in relation to the death of Mr Damian Mills in Western Australia in 2014, and that the Committee is also interested in the decision not to proceed with prosecutions in the matter..."

A couple of passing strange issues struck me about these hearings; first there was a similarity to the long ongoing 'Performance of Airservices inquiry (see here: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Bus...ustralia45); second is this a new committee strategy for isolating individual agencies/departments that the committee has oversight concerns over? 

Last but by no means least, isn't it particularly concerning that all these agencies and the department are supposedly meant to be effectively oversighted by a responsible Minister of the Crown? 

This embarrassing situation where the miniscule is repeatedly MIA was perhaps best summed up by Sterlo in this Youtube segment: 

   
After the AMSA hearing yesterday there was another hearing into ASA, Harfwit and the OneSKY trough feeders:- https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Bus...c_Hearings 

Until the Hansard is out I won't bother to rehash any of yesterday's hearing but to explain the purpose for this hearing please refer to Harfwit's 30 November correspondence to the committee: https://www.aph.gov.au/DocumentStore.ash...6cbaef0cc8 
   
Quite obviously the committee were unimpressed with the ASA evidence provided yesterday because I note that today in the Senate Senator Sterle had a proposed inquiry motion agreed to:

Mover


Senator Sterle


*# Chair of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee (Senator Sterle): To move—That the following matter be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by the second sitting day in August 2019:
The provision of rescue, firefighting and emergency response at Australian airports, with particular reference to:

1. the current standards applicable to the provision of aerodrome rescue and firefighting services relating to community safety and the emergency personnel safety;
   
2. the standards for the provision of emergency response at Australian airports, including emergency medical response and response to structure fires and other incidents;
   
3. the comparison of safe systems of emergency response standards and systems of work for firefighting and rescue operations for structure fires, aircraft rescue, emergency medical response and other emergency incidents;
   
4. the consideration of best practice, including relevant international standards;
   
5. the mechanisms and criteria for the review of the provisions of safety standards for the provision of rescue and firefighting services, if any;
   
6. a review of Airservices Australia policy and administration of aviation rescue and firefighting services;
   
7. the effectiveness and independence of the regulator, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), to uphold aviation rescue and firefighting safety standards;
   
8. the impact on Australia’s national and international reputation and aviation safety record as a result of any lowering of aviation rescue and firefighting services; and
   
9. any other related matters.
   

  
I find g & h of particular interest, especially when you consider the high profile findings/deficiencies of the ICAO 2017 final audit report (ref: http://auntypru.com/wp-content/uploads/2...t_full.pdf ) under AGA (Annex 14), in particular No 2: 

AGA:

1) Ensure full implementation of Annex 14, Volume I requirements on Runway End Safety Areas (RESAs) at aerodromes.
2) Ensure full implementation of Annex 14, Volume I requirements for the provision of rescue and firefighting (RFF) services at aerodromes, which take into account the aerodrome location and the surrounding terrain.

Perhaps the committee should be requesting a copy of the corrective action plan and an update on what stage the proposed corrective actions are at?

5. FOLLOW-UP ACTION


5.1 In accordance with the MOU agreed to between Australia and ICAO, Australia replied in a letter dated 23 February 2018 that it had no comments on the draft report and also reiterated its commitment to develop its CAPs accordingly.

5.2 According to the MOU, the State undertakes to submit its updated CAPs directly on the USOAP CMA online framework (https://www.icao.int/usoap) within 45 days after receipt of this final report.

5.3 The CAPs should provide specific actions and estimated implementation dates, as well as a responsible office for taking action to correct the deficiencies identified in the findings. Further guidance on how to develop effective CAPs is outlined in the “Guidance for States on Developing Corrective Action Plans (CAPs)”, which can be found in the “CMA Library” of the online framework.

5.4 ICAO will provide Australia with feedback on the acceptability of the proposed updated CAPs. If any proposed corrective actions do not fully address the associated findings, the State will be notified accordingly.

5.5 If no CAP is submitted, ICAO will contact Australia to determine the reasons for not providing a CAP and report its findings to Council.

 
 While they are at it could we also get an update on where the proposed corrective actions are for this finding/deficiency?

AGA:

Ensure that the State has a coordinated mechanism to ensure full and effective implementation of the obstacle limitation surfaces (OLS) at aerodromes, including arrangements to prohibit any building developments which could create an obstacle to aircraft operations.

 
MTF...P2