[Peetwo]

Supplementary Estimates - WQON.

(N.B AQON for Sup Estimates are due 06/12/19)

Airservices:

Question on notice no. 366

Senator Glenn Sterle: asked the Airservices Australia on 8 November 2019—
In August 2019, Airservices Australia announced that a review into organisational
culture was to be commissioned and performed by Elizabeth Broderick.
Can you provide a status update?
What are the initial findings from the review, if any?
Please provide a copy of the review's Terms of Reference.
Will the review process incorporate staff from all functional areas of Airservices?
What is the timeline for the different review processes within the review period?
A report issued in August 2019 by Tony North QC which initiated this review noted
that 50% of all respondents to the report's survey (75% for women) reported
inappropriate touching, bullying, discrimination or sexual abuse over the past decade.
Over the last 10 years, what has been done at a corporate level to address bullying,
harassment and discrimination?
Does Airservices Australia's employee assistance provider provide reportable data
that would allow you to proactively address specific problem areas for staff health and
wellbeing?
o If yes, please provide the numbers on how many staff have accessed EAP services
and a breakdown of what services were accessed, for the past three financial years?

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Question on notice no. 367

Senator Glenn Sterle: asked the Airservices Australia on 8 November 2019—
The Accelerate Program was due to be completed by 30 June 2017 with a postimplementation
review due by 30 December 2017. Could you please provide a copy
of that review?
Airservices Australia performs a variety of technical functions, including the
operation and sustainment of air navigation services and its infrastructure. Over the
past five years, has the amount of work for technical staff increased or decreased in
that period?
Can you provide a progress update on the Network Enterprise Modernisation Project
(NEMP) ?
What is the projected total impact upon full-time equivalent (FTE) levels for APS
staff through the NEMP?

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Question on notice no. 368

Senator Glenn Sterle: asked the Airservices Australia on 8 November 2019—
Is it correct that under the new harmonised, automated civil and military air traffic
control system (CMATS) under OneSky, the idea would be that an air traffic
controller in Brisbane Airport could take over operations in Tullamarine Airport?
o Are there plans for situations such as this to be a regular occurrence, or only used as
a backup in exceptional circumstances (e.g. network equipment failures or local
incidents) ?
o In those circumstances, is there a risk of human error, should an air traffic controller
monitoring the air space of half the continent to be able to identify a potential
localised event in the other half?
o Is it realistic to expect this system to be effective, with so much responsibility
concentrated in one place?
With the centralisation of air traffic control operations in one tower, could such
circumstances have an impact to either the aviation industry or aviation safety?
With this remote tower technology, is there a planned reduction of staff in air traffic
control towers across the country?

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Question on notice no. 369

Senator Glenn Sterle: asked the Airservices Australia on 8 November 2019—
How much has the Chief Executive Officer received in bonuses since his appointment
to the position in 2016?
In each financial year, what were those bonuses tied to?

Aviation & Airports:

Question on notice no. 317

Senator Louise Pratt: asked the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and
Regional Development on 4 November 2019—

Is the Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities aware that
Jandakot Airport Holdings (JAH) has approval for a 2010 Master Plan to develop
Jandakot Airport?
Is the Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities aware that JAH
has environmental approval from the Commonwealth Department of Energy and
Environment to implement the 2010 Master Plan to develop Jandakot Airport with
conditions?
Is the Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities aware that one
of the conditions
(3
(a) ) associated with the environmental approval from the Commonwealth
Department of Energy and Environment to implement the 2010 Master Plan to
develop Jandakot Airport requires JAH to conserve, in perpetuity, a 119ha parcel
of bushland in Conservation Precincts 1A, 1B, and 2 which consists of the
Commonwealth-listed Threatened Banksia woodland ecosystem and supports
Commonwealth-listed Threatened species Carnaby's Cockatoo and Grand Spider
Orchid, three Matters of National Environmental Significance, and that JAH
agreed to that condition?
Is the Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities aware that
JAH is preparing a 2020 Master Plan to further develop Jandakot Airport, in line
with the requirements of their lease of Jandakot Airport?
Is the Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities aware that,
as of June 2018, JAH proposes to clear 76ha of the vegetation in Conservation
Precincts A, 1B, and 2 for commercial, not aviation, development, as part of its
proposed 2020 Master Plan.
Is the Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities aware that
JAH has re-named Conservation Precincts A, 1B, and 2 as part of an effort to
obfuscate the matter and give the impression it is not contravening its condition
to not clear any of this land (ever)
Does the Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities agree
that clearing 76ha (or any) of the vegetation in Conservation Precincts A, 1B, and
2, as proposed in JAH's proposed 2020 Master Plan, would be contrary to the
environmental approval associated with the approved 2010 Master Plan, and
should not be permitted
Can the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development advise whether
JAH has held any discussions with the Department or the Jandakot Airport
Environment Officer regarding its 2020 Master Plan, when these occurred, and
what the outcome of those discussions were with respect to clearing vegetation in
Conservation Precincts A, 1B, and 2

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Question on notice no. 318

Senator Glenn Sterle: asked the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and
Regional Development on 8 November 2019—
Can you please advise:
How many airports are there in Australia?
How many airports are currently using airport screening equipment for either
passenger or freight services (i.e. have planes that land and meet the current security
thresholds) ?
How many airports will be required to use the new airport screening equipment (i.e.
have planes that land and will meet the new security thresholds) ?
When the new security rules were originally announced, was the Department
consulted by the Department of Home Affairs about the deadline advised to the
industry that the new security rules will need to be in place by?
What feedback are you getting from the operators of regional passenger services
(airlines and regional airports) ?
In relation to these transport security upgrades, who is meeting the costs of:
Equipment
Terminal modifications
Ongoing staffing costs
Has any assessment or modelling been completed to indicate what these new costs
could mean for regional airfares? Is the Department aware of any regional airlines
already considering cutting routes in anticipation of these new costs?
The Government has announced $50.1 million to assist regional airports with upgrade
costs.
o Which Department is administering this funding?
o Is this one-off funding or on-going funding?
o If non-on-going, will airports that have not have previously had to cover security
costs, now will have to pay for security where they didn't before?
o How many requests for funding have been received?
o How many of the requests received, will be funded in full?
o How many of the requests received, will be funded partially?
? Please provide a summary of the reasons why the requests will only be partially
funded?
o How many requests have been denied?
? Please provide a summary of the reasons for denial?
Some state governments are quite involved in regional air travel. NSW provides
subsidies for Qantas to fly to Moree and Lord Howe Island. The Queensland
Government contracts Qantas to operate some routes (for example Brisbane-Roma-
Charleville) , and WA has a licencing regime for some routes.
o Has the Department had any interactions or representations from state/territory
governments or state/territory ministers about the security upgrades?
? If yes, from which state/territory governments or which state/territory ministers?
o Has the Minister had any similar representations?
Has the Department provided advice to the Deputy Prime Minister in respect of the
letter from the Regional Aviation Association of Australia requesting that the
Government conduct a full independent review of industry capability and readiness
ahead of the commencement of the policy, or at the very least delaying the
implementation to line up with the US and Hong Kong timeframe of June 2021?
o What was that advice?
In relation to mandatory domestic screening of airfreight:
o How are the new rules being applied? What do freight companies and/or regional
airports need to do to comply?
o Does the Department believe that there is capacity/capability within the industry for
the cargo volumes to be screened with current screening equipment and also meet
overnight flight schedules? If not, what impact will this have on the movement of air
freight - especially in regional locations?
o Has a regulatory impact statement been prepared?
o When will consultation take place with the industry in relation to the RIS?
o As per Office of Best Practice Regulation guidelines, have alternative measures of
compliance been assessed (for example detection dogs, sampling freight for
screening, passenger only aircraft screening etc) ?
o Why has the Government mandated domestic airfreight screening 12 months ahead
of international jurisdictions?
o Is the Department aware of technology under development in the US that will allow
pallet sized screening of airfreight?
In relation to the six case studies being developed by the Department of
Infrastructure:
o What decision making process of government will these feed into? Will they trigger
a re-consideration of the policy by government? Are the case studies in addition to the
Department of Home Affairs regulation impact statement?
o A reduction in the demand for airfreight due to higher screening costs, may
significantly impact the viability of regional air routes as freight supplements
passenger revenue. Has a reduction in demand for airfreight been considered as part
of the department's six case studies? Will this be modelled in addition to the increase
in passenger screening costs?

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Question on notice no. 319

Senator Glenn Sterle: asked the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and
Regional Development on 8 November 2019—

On 29 October 2019, the Deputy Prime Minister announced that the Government
would be developing a Regional Aviation Policy Statement. Can the Department
please advise:
The purpose of this policy statement.
Timeline for development of the statement, including consultation with stakeholders.
Issues to be included in the statement.
Will the statement include regional aviation security (impacts on regional airports,
costs to consumers/airports/freight forwarders) ?
Is the policy statement being developed within the Department, or will a consultant be
appointed to undertake the work (in part or in full) ?
Will the Government be responding to the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and
Transport References Committee report in the Operation, Regulation and Funding of
Air Route Service Delivery that was presented to the Senate on 7 June 2019?

ATSB:

Question on notice no. 387

Senator Glenn Sterle: asked the Australian Transport Safety Bureau on 8 November
2019—

What is the status of the following investigations?
o AO-2016-084
o AO-2017-066
If these investigations are still classified as "pending", when do you expect them to be
finalised?
Is there a time period within which ATSB would normally expect investigations to be
complete?
In the case of AO-2017-066 why was the aircraft diverted to Perth rather than landing
at its nearest alternative, Learmonth? Is this considered best practice?
In relation to investigation AO-2015-084:
o What recommendations were included in this report?
o Have all recommendations been adopted by the airline?
o Does ATSB hold any concerns about the safety of this airline to operate in
Australia?

P2 - These are the ATSB investigations in the order that Sen Sterle mentions them:
 

AO-2016-084

AO-2017-066

AO-2015-084

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Question on notice no. 388

Senator Glenn Sterle: asked the Australian Transport Safety Bureau on 8 November
2019—

Please provide staffing profile (by FTE and classification) for ATSB's investigation
work for each financial year since 2013/14

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Question on notice no. 389

Senator Nick McKim: asked the Australian Transport Safety Bureau on 11
November 2019—

(1. Was flight EK441 grounded at Adelaide Airport on 25 July 2016?
a. If so:
b. what was the reason for the grounding?
c. has an incident report been lodged?
i. If so, please provide a copy.

CASA:

Question on notice no. 390

Senator Glenn Sterle: asked the Civil Aviation Safety Authority on 8 November
2019—

How many Flying Operations Inspectors are employed at CASA?
On average how many hours of flying currency training was completed by Flying
Operations Inspectors last year?
How many applications for flying currency training put forward by staff have been
rejected by CASA in the last year? On what grounds?
Are CASA meeting the ICAO requirements to maintain the skills and currency of
their staff to the same level held by industry?
How many Flying Operations Inspectors are 'not current' (ie training not up to date)
on the aircraft types they are required to oversight?

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Question on notice no. 391

Senator Glenn Sterle: asked the Civil Aviation Safety Authority on 8 November
2019—

Is it correct that any engineering/maintenance organisation that wants to conduct any
maintenance on the aircraft conducting high capacity regular public passenger
services needs an approval issued by CASA under Civil Aviation Safety Regulation
(CASR) 145?
What are the steps involved in assessing and approving Part 145 approvals? Where
are these published?
What is the normal practice for reviewing Part 145 applications to conduct onsite
inspections of overseas operators and facilities who are seeking Part 145 approvals?
In the last 2 years, how many physical site inspections have been conducted as part of
145 approvals within Australia?
In the last 2 years, how many physical site inspections have been conducted as part of
145 approvals overseas?
What are the risks posed by organisations not being properly scrutinised in the Part
145 approval process?
Were CASA regulations followed in the assessment and approval of EFW's Part 145?

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Question on notice no. 392

Senator Glenn Sterle: asked the Civil Aviation Safety Authority on 8 November
2019—

Does CASA agree that there are serious issues with workplace culture?
What steps is CASA taking to improve workplace culture?
How many vacant positions exist in the technical workforce?
What is the impact on industry and aviation safety of these positions being unfilled?
When does CASA plan on filling these vacancies?
CASA's corporate plan recognises that staff lacking skill or not having the capacity to
perform their role is a risk to aviation safety, why has CASA allowed so many
vacancies to remain in the technical workforce?

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Question on notice no. 393

Senator Glenn Sterle: asked the Civil Aviation Safety Authority on 8 November
2019—

(1. The Australian reported on the 2nd September 2019 that Australian airports are at
serious risk of a Gatwick style shutdown because laws are too weak to rein in rogue
operators of drones. The article continues to say that despite the number of drones in
Australia now exceeding 350,000, legislation is still not in place to tackle the threat of
an airspace breach at a major airport.
a. Does CASA agree with this? What has CASA done or what is CASA doing to
ensure that a Gatwick style shutdown does not happen at airports in Australia?
b. Has the Government consulted CASA on the need to strengthen legislation to
ensure that this does not happen at Australian airports?
2. On the 25th of August 2019, Blake Foden wrote an article in The Canberra Times
titled "Air Travellers 'at risk', safety authority blasted over maintenance approvals".
The article begins by saying that "The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has been
accused of putting air travellers at risk after it approved three overseas facilities to
carry out maintenance work on Australian aircraft without its airworthiness inspectors
every laying eyes on the facilities". The article reported that these maintenance
facilities are located in South Korea, Fiji and Germany.
a. Why couldn't the aircraft maintenance facilities be located in Australia?
b. How did CASA decide on the facilities in South Korea, Fiji and Germany?
c. Was there a tender process?
d. Does CASA or the Australian Government provide funding to assist with the
operation of these facilities? If so, how much?
e. Did CASA inspect these facilities before they became operational to carry out
safety checks? If not, why not?
f. Does CASA plan on auditing these facilities? If so, when?

P2 - Always remember the golden rule with WQON: Don't ask questions that you don't already know the answers for - hmm something afoot me thinks...

MTF...P2