[Peetwo]

Budget Estimates 2024-25 and unanswered QON?? -

Via the RRAT Committee Budget Estimates webpages: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Bus..._estimates

Quote from the report - see Budget estimates 2024-25 :

Questions on notice and Hansard Transcript

1.10 In accordance with standing order 26(9)(a), the committee agreed Thursday 1August2024 as the date for the return of written answers or additional information in response to questions placed on notice during the initial hearings. The committee agreed Friday 8 August 2024 as the date for the return of written answers or additional information in response to questions placed on notice during the additional hearing.

So it would appear that Betsy, his minions and all his associated agencies have less than a week to answer all written QON and all other QON are now officially overdue...  

Hmm...so how's that working out??? Well from my calculation the total QON answered for Dicky King's department and supposedly oversighted agencies (including CASA, ATSB and ASA) is currently at a miserly 64 AQON, leaving a total of 358 QON yet to be answered (including I believe zero written QON)?? -  

Some interesting WQON...

Question on notice no. 161

Senator Bridget McKenzie: asked the Department of Infrastructure, Transport,
Regional Development, Communications and the Arts on 14 June 2024—

1. Part of the consultation was regarding bilateral service agreements and a number
of stakeholders made specific responses regarding significant improvements to TransTasman travel that could be implemented. Has the department begun work on any
specific projects to reduce barriers to trans-tasman travel?
2. Since the Minister rejected the Qatar application to increase capacity and reduce
airfares to Europe by up to 30% last year, has any further application been made by
Qatar?
3. Has any country made application to increase capacity beyond what was announced
late last year?
4. Has the department or government received any offers of open skies agreements by
another nation since being elected? which nation/s?
5. has the department provided any briefs to the Minister regarding new capacity
between Australia and any other nation since the Minister's announcement in
December?
6. Has the department modelled or done any work on removing cabotage barrier?

---

Question on notice no. 172

Senator Bridget McKenzie: asked the Department of Infrastructure, Transport,
Regional Development, Communications and the Arts on 14 June 2024—

1. Where can I find the white paper in the Budget papers?
2. What is the total cost of the project from 2023-24 through the forward estimates?
can you break it down?
3. Has the department finalised the consultation process and provided a draft to the
Minister?
4. When was the final draft submitted?
5. Has any of the outcomes from the white paper been included in the budget?

---

Question on notice no. 402

Senator Bridget McKenzie: asked the Department of Infrastructure, Transport,
Regional Development, Communications and the Arts on 1 July 2024—

1. When was the last time the tender was awarded to a different bidder?
3. The ACCC has been critical of the ownership arrangements of the slot manager,
Qantas and Virgin majority own the entity, and they are the largest beneficiaries of
the scheme, yes?
4. How can the slot manager maintain its legislative requirements and be owned by
the two largest customers?
5. How does the ACA monitors compliance with the 80:20 rule?

---

Question on notice no. 416

Senator Bridget McKenzie: asked the Department of Infrastructure, Transport,
Regional Development, Communications and the Arts on 1 July 2024—

1. How many Quarterly Reports has the Department and Minister received from
AirServices Australia in response to the new Statement of Expectations issued by the
Minister last year?
2. Has the Minister provided any written responses to AirServices Australia's
Quarterly Reports, raising concerns with the level of progress being achieved by the
agency in relation to air Traffic control staffing, flight cancellations and delays?
3. Has the Minister requested meetings with AirServices Australia in response to their
Quarterly Reports to raise concerns about progress on complying with the Statement
of Expectations?

MTF...P2

[Sandy Reith]

Senator McKenzie is on the the right track but the General aviation community needs to be asking what are the policies being developed to cause fundamental reform in order to cure the same old same old repeating ad Infinitum problems that are the hallmark of the aviation independents.
CASA, ATSB, and AirServices Australia are the high salaried monopoly fiefdoms within ‘Government Industries’ that are outside of where they should be, that is within Departments with a responsible Minister at its head.
It’s called the Westminster system of Parliamentary government.

[Peetwo]

Dicky King too little too late??

Via Oz Aviation:

Sydney slot management out to tender
August 5, 2024


The Federal Government has put slot management at Sydney Airport out to tender, a week after Rex went into voluntary administration.

Announced in February as part of a slew of government reforms, the competitive tender process will require prospective slot managers to demonstrate how they would deliver on those reforms, and “manage and mitigate conflicts of interest in a transparent way”.

The company that currently manages the slots, Airport Coordination Australia (ACA), has board representation from Qantas, Virgin, the Regional Aviation Association of Australia, and the airport itself, and was last week criticised by former ACCC chair Rod Sims.

“We are getting on with the job of delivering the reforms that were announced in February,” said Federal Transport Minister Catherine King.
“The recommendations for change were handed to the previous Government in February 2021. On coming to office, it was clear that the previous government had shown little interest in issuing a serious response to the findings.

“In contrast, the Albanese Government started the White Paper process and undertook consultation, including targeted consultation, on responding to the Harris Review. We are serious about making long term reforms to aviation in Australia that are much needed after a decade of neglect.”
Petra Popovac, CEO of ACA, has stood by her company’s reputation.

“We welcome an open tender, this is not the first open tender at Sydney,” she told Australian Aviation.

“We are exceptional at our job and are recognized globally by positions that we hold within industry advisory groups, such as the World Airport Slots Board, where I am Chair.”

The Government earlier this year announced a major package of reforms for Sydney Airport, though stopped short of ditching the controversial “80/20 rule”, which allows airlines to keep a take-off slot indefinitely as long as they operate it at least 80 per cent of the time.

“The Government has already implemented a number of these commitments including an independent audit of slot usage, with results to be released once completed; and has re-established the Compliance Committee for Sydney Airport that manages compliance with the slot regime,” the Government said in a press release.

“The reforms will be finalised with forthcoming legislation which will include changing the allocation process to free up more slots and changing the definition of ‘new entrant’ to make it easier for new airlines to obtain slots.

“Other reforms include modernising the compliance regime with penalties that address anti‑competitive behaviours, updated and strengthened enforcement tools for the Government to watch airlines more closely and take effective legal action where necessary, and requiring airlines to provide regular information on how they use slots, such as reasons for cancellations or major delays, which will be regularly published.”

And from Oz Flying:

RAAA calls for Broad Regional Focus

5 August 2024




The Regional Aviation Association of Australia (RAAA) has called on the Federal Government to consider the challenges facing all regional airlines in the wake of Regional Express going into voluntary administration.

Although REX was placed in administration last week, only the B737 services on trunk routes have ceased, with SAAB 340 operations into regional centres continuing. Training and charter/aeromedical operations are also not affected.

The Federal Government has been under some pressure to provide support to REX to ensure regional centres remain connected, but the RAAA says the problem is not isolated to one carrier alone.

“Aviation is the lifeblood of regional Australia and RAAA member airlines connect people, communities and businesses across our vast nation every day,” RAAA CEO Rob Walker said in a statement released today.

“Whilst Government considers the support required to ensure the continuation of essential regional air routes, the RAAA urges government to carefully consider all regional airlines that are currently servicing or are capable of servicing affected routes, and not to focus on any one individual operator."

The RAAA said it shared community concerns about the administration of REX, highlighting the plight of regional
communities serviced by the airline, and the REX staff that face an uncertain future.

"The RAAA highlights the importance of industry playing a key role in working with Government to ensure the best possible outcome for these communities, long term sustainability of regional aviation, and the Australian taxpayer," the statement says.

RAAA Chair Malcolm Sharp said the future of regional aviation required an all-of-industry approach.

"All sectors of the Australian aviation industry must step up and work together," Sharp said. "Governments, regulators, aviation agencies, airlines, airports, and industry suppliers must ensure regional aviation thrives and grows stronger for the benefit of the regional communities we serve."

The RAAA also said it hoped that the government’s long-term strategies for the aviation industry would "go beyond a focus on decarbonisation and address real cost reductions, equity in investment of training costs, ongoing removal of red tape, and consideration around the true costs of providing regional services in modern aircraft."

Last week, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said her department was looking into what could be done for REX.

"REX is an important airline for regional and remote communities and REX’s continuation is in the best interests of regional Australians, the travelling public, its workers and the aviation sector," King said.

"The government will work closely with the administrator to determine a path forward that ensures regional aviation has a strong future in this country."

MTF...P2

[Peetwo]

Senate Inquiry - Impact and mitigation of aircraft noise 28/08/24: Hobart Public Hearing

Via APH website: 

28 Aug 2024
Hobart, TAS
- program
- submissions

For definitely a less emotive, more informative and common sense expert evidence provided (so far in this inquiry), please refer to the following YouTube audio segment from Shannon Wells, MD Airlines of Tasmania...

Tabled doc from SW: 

19  Cambridge Aerodrome & Airlines of Tasmania, Standard Instrument Arrival flight path maps provided by Shannon Wells at a public hearing in Hobart (received 28 August 2024)

WELL DONE THAT MAN! - 

MTF...P2 

[Peetwo]

For inquiry?? - 

Via Senate:

Sydney Airport Demand Management Amendment Bill 2024 [Provisions]

On 10 October 2024, the Senate referred the Sydney Airport Demand Management Amendment Bill 2024 [Provisions] to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 14 November 2024.

Making a contribution

Thank you for your interest in the committee’s inquiry. The committee’s task is to receive evidence in relation to its terms of reference, prepare a report, and make recommendations to the Senate. As such, the committee is not able to investigate or assist with individual matters or complaints.

Individuals are welcome to make a submission addressing the terms of reference to assist the committee with its consideration of the issues. Information on making a submission to a parliamentary inquiry is available on the Senate’s website, here.

Committee Secretariat contact:

Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Phone: +61 2 6277 3511
rrat.sen@aph.gov.au

Plus from Senator Lambie:

 

Tasmania: Aviation Industry

Senator LAMBIE (Tasmania) (13:39): Australia's aviation sector has one big bully, in the shape of a flying kangaroo. Qantas recently announced its decision to reduce its 27 weekly flights out of Devonport by seven. Time and time again Qantas plays a game of survival of the fittest, but it's strategy has always been to weaken the competition so that Skippy doesn't fall from the sky. As we saw following the Rex and Bonza collapses, airfares on major city routes went up 12 per cent. It feels like we've been here before. Qantas pushed out Rex from flying into Burnie just over a decade ago, and on cue the price of airfares went up. Now we have an issue with flights being cut again on the north-west coast.

Qantas says the use of bigger planes will mean more seats will be available, but what it really means is fewer options for north-west coasters wanting to fly out of Devonport and Burnie. With these changes, some people travelling for work will need to travel the day before, as same-day travel will no longer be possible. This cuts off businesses on the north-west coast from the national economy and health professionals on the mainland. The Devonport Chamber of Commerce and Industry has said that this decision will hurt tourism and increase costs for local businesses, and it will. Prices will most likely go up, and Qantas will flex its muscle to ensure they stay up.

More than 20 regional airlines have collapsed in Australia since the 1990s, yet the Aviation white paper doesn't say much about supporting regional communities to get affordable and reliable access to airlines. A senior constituent wrote to me explaining that travelling out of Devonport to get to Sydney costs almost $1,000 more than flying out of Launceston, which is one hour up the road. He asked how this is justifiable. Well, I don't know why he's asking me, because Qantas needs to come to the table and start telling us why this is going on. You say you've got more seats, but it costs us more. How is this working?

I'll tell you what I'd like to do. I'd love to refer Qantas to the ACCC. But, let's be real, they are about as much use as a wet paper bag.

Plus update to Impact & Mitigation of Aircraft Noise inquiry:

Impact and mitigation of aircraft noise

3 new submissions have been added

A new additional information has been added - Dr Andrew Hede, Opening statement, public hearing 20 September 2024 (received 30 September 2024)

A new answer to question on notice has been added - John Hicks, Gold Coast Lifestyle Association, response to questions taken on notice, public hearing 20 September 2024 (received 20 September 2024)

MTF...P2 

[Peetwo]

Senator McKenzie Bill and Inquiry amendment??

Follow on to above, via the Senate Chamber yesterday:

Senator McKENZIE (Victoria—Leader of the Nationals in the Senate) (11:30): I move an amendment to part (b) of the motion:

Omit "14 November 2024", substitute "31 January 2025".

The Sydney Airport Demand Management Amendment Bill 2024—53 pages of legislation—which was handed to the parliament at midday yesterday, makes the biggest change in three decades to the slot-management system, the access, into Sydney airport, our busiest airport in this country.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the crossbenchers, who last year worked with me to set up an inquiry into the Qatar Airways decision, which unmasked the government's lack of action around competition in the aviation sector and around these very longstanding, protected relationships, which, the Prime Minister and Alan Joyce notwithstanding, go back a long time and have had a significant impact on the reliability and price of aviation for everyday Australians.

I believe the significance of this change requires a longer inquiry. I appreciate that the government wants to get this through before going to an election and I don't want to stand in the way of changing a regulatory environment that is costing Australians each and every day, but I do believe that it is this chamber's responsibility to give the committee and stakeholders a chance to have an authentic and genuine engagement with the material, with the bill, and to provide, once again, the Senate and the government with sensible recommendations, as we did with the Senate bilateral air services agreements inquiry last year.

I'm not seeking an endless inquiry. This is a Labor government-controlled legislation inquiry. I know that right now senators and committees are very pressed for time. This will require more than two hearings to do it justice and to get it written and reported on in time for our next sitting date. If there are more submissions than we expect or there are more complexities than we've already uncovered in the brief time we've had the legislation before us, it won't allow us the opportunity to extend the inquiry. That is why I've set the reporting date at 31 January: it's so that the report can be delivered in time for the legislation to appear before the Senate and be debated and moved prior to heading to an election.

I know that the crossbench and the Greens supported the setting up of that bilateral air services agreements committee. It handed down an incredibly sensible array of recommendations. The Harris review has been around for a while. My initial reading of this bill is that it doesn't implement the Harris review recommendations, as the government is running around and saying. It actually only implements a couple of them. So there is some sensible work that can be done by senators, in conjunction with stakeholders, to ensure that the problems with getting access into Sydney, from right around the country, can actually be addressed. So I implore the crossbench and I implore the Greens to reconsider their position on extending the date. It's great to see the chamber has realised this is an issue Australians care about and that we're prepared to now have an inquiry, but let's make it an inquiry that doesn't hold the bill up unnecessarily prior to an election and that actually allows us to do our job and provide sensible recommendations, as this Senate and this particular committee have done in the past. I commend my amendment.

MTF...P2

[Peetwo]

Senate Inquiry into the Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Quality and Integrity) Bill 2024 - Aviation Industry stakeholder submissions

Courtesy the RAAA submissions page:

Submission to the Senate Inquiry into the Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Quality and Integrity) Bill 2024

Written by Natalie Gane on 30 September 2024 - Submissions

The RAAA acknowledges the government’s policy intent to reduce net immigration to ensure that housing affordability is kept at a reasonable level for Australians. However, the Association is deeply concerned that what has been proposed has serious implications for Australian aviation businesses that provide and rely on flight training activities in support of the Australian economy.

If the allocated caps that are due to come into effect from 1 January 2025 are to proceed there will be a number of large, medium, and small flight training businesses that will no longer remain viable – they will be forced to cease operations and close down resulting in significant job losses.

The RAAA strongly requested in our submission to the Senate Inquiry that the Federal Government does not include pilot training candidates in the international student caps or at least reconsiders and revises up the numbers of international student places that have been allocated to Australian flight training organisations.

Read Submission

Plus, via the Senate Inquiry submissions pages:

73 Flight Training Adelaide (PDF 153 KB)

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97 Moorabbin Aviation Services (PDF 98 KB)

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103 BASAIR Australia (PDF 1260 KB) 

---

137 Royal Victorian Aero Club (PDF 1011 KB) 

---

138 Royal Federation of Aero Clubs of Australia (PDF 1136 KB) 

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145 Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Australia (PDF 192 KB) 

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149 Airlines of Tasmania (PDF 63 KB) 

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180 Australian Federation of Air Pilots (PDF 218 KB) 

TICK TOCK goes the (Oz international flight training industry) DOOMSDAY CLOCK!!?? -   

MTF...P2 

[Kharon]

Senate Inquiry into the Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Quality and Integrity) Bill 2024 - Aviation Industry stakeholder submissions

Courtesy the RAAA submissions page:

Submission to the Senate Inquiry into the Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Quality and Integrity) Bill 2024

Written by Natalie Gane on 30 September 2024 - Submissions

The RAAA acknowledges the government’s policy intent to reduce net immigration to ensure that housing affordability is kept at a reasonable level for Australians. However, the Association is deeply concerned that what has been proposed has serious implications for Australian aviation businesses that provide and rely on flight training activities in support of the Australian economy.

If the allocated caps that are due to come into effect from 1 January 2025 are to proceed there will be a number of large, medium, and small flight training businesses that will no longer remain viable – they will be forced to cease operations and close down resulting in significant job losses.

The RAAA strongly requested in our submission to the Senate Inquiry that the Federal Government does not include pilot training candidates in the international student caps or at least reconsiders and revises up the numbers of international student places that have been allocated to Australian flight training organisations.

Read Submission

Plus, via the Senate Inquiry submissions pages:

73 Flight Training Adelaide (PDF 153 KB)

---

 
97 Moorabbin Aviation Services (PDF 98 KB)

---

103 BASAIR Australia (PDF 1260 KB) 

---

137 Royal Victorian Aero Club (PDF 1011 KB) 

---

138 Royal Federation of Aero Clubs of Australia (PDF 1136 KB) 

---

145 Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Australia (PDF 192 KB) 

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149 Airlines of Tasmania (PDF 63 KB) 

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180 Australian Federation of Air Pilots (PDF 218 KB) 

TICK TOCK goes the (Oz international flight training industry) DOOMSDAY CLOCK!!?? -   

MTF...P2 

[Kharon]

ASA Dealing – from a stacked deck?

Daff said “he believed the real reason behind the circuit cap is to combat a rising number of reports to Airservices' Corporate Integrated Reporting and Risk Information System (CIRRIS), which collects data on safety, environment and risk management issues.”

Anyone who has had the pleasure of visiting the 'tower', meeting the crew and observing them at work would have noted the number of ATCO on the job; there's a fair few – or there used to be when three runways were in use; IFR departing and arriving, VFR same, training area dispatch & returns and the odd first solo – plus the 'choppers'. On a 'busy day, those in the tower earned their money. However, this latest offering from ASA smells a little 'off' to me. Consider the TIBA debacle and the shortage of ATCO and the time it takes to train one and certify a new start to operational work. How would you short circuit that? Easy – reduce the number of operations at secondary aerodromes to a maximum which can be managed by a smaller ATCO crew and 'pinch' the others into the mainline operation. All the fury related to TIBA, delays and etc. slips way. ASA will be full of bounce at the next Estimates - “Oh, we've solved the Halfwit's legacy problem; ain't we brilliant.  Aye, call me cynical if you will – but watch closely as the pageant unfurls and the Senators smile while the band plays 'believe it if you like' – in waltz time..

RAAA - “The circuit cap is believed to be one of a number of measures to combat rising operational deviations at Moorabbin when compared to the other metro Class D towered airports.”

'Operation deviations and 'Crisis' – BOLLOCKS. Since Pontious rolled down the first runway, student and occasionally the odd 'qualified' pilots have made a mess of 'something' – usually sorted out by the ATCO – ops normal at a 'training' aerodrome. The odd (in old money) 225 floating about, even tea and biscuits with a FOI for a grievous 'deviation' – but mostly routine for a busy training area. Unless instructors have become useless and students are willfully disregarding the 'rools' and their lessons – the notion of 'combating' 'deviations' by reducing the traffic numbers the argument for it become nugatory. If the 'training is 'failing' then that demands immediate rectification; if the students are constantly 'deviating' then operational norms; then this is a grass roots problem and reducing the traffic cannot possibly rectify this. Carts and horses - anyone..

No matter - If I ever find a bundle of nine dollars notes; I'll toddle off to ASA HQ and cash 'em in for three's (less the small commission - of course). -

Yours in happy horse shit-

Toot toot....