[Peetwo]

Chester leaving the A-word safety (& security) to the experts -

In light of a foiled terrorist attack by the combined security forces of the newly minted Home Affairs department, our aviation disaster of a Minister came home from China with a wet sail and a rather confusing message on aviation matters of security..err safety...err security & safety - 

Yesterday's presser from the disaster for aviation minister NFI_Chester (note the number of times 'security', 'secure' gets mentioned): 

Additional Aviation Security Measures

Providing the Australian public with safe and secure air travel is an Australian Government priority.

E.g.

“The Government has a world class, comprehensive security system in place to keep travellers secure. As a matter of course, the Australian Government will continue to monitor security developments and adjust security settings as needed.”

   
Then today the miniscule seamlessly changes tack and starts spruiking the aviation safety mantra - :

Press Conference, Doorstop

Subjects: Additional airport safety requirements in all major airports around Australia.

Darren Chester: I want to thank the Australian airports for acting so swiftly to implement additional security arrangements in the wake of the counter-terrorism operation which occurred in Sydney over the weekend. I also want to thank the Australian travelling public for their patience at this difficult time. While we certainly apologise for any inconvenience in terms of delays, we make no apologies for the fact that we've made safety our number one priority and we've acted so swiftly to improve safety arrangements at our major airports around the nation. I'd just encourage people to be understanding and be tolerant of the additional requirements that we've put in place, and be respectful of the security operations which are ongoing, and make sure that when dealing with airport staff, give them due courtesy and respect that they're doing a difficult job in trying circumstances.

The travelling public needs to have confidence that we're doing everything we can to maintain safety throughout Australia. At the same time, they should recognise that they may need to allow more time themselves for their domestic flights and international flights. We're advising travellers to allow two hours for domestic flights and three hours for international flights to allow the upgraded security arrangements to be properly implemented. There will be some queuing, and we apologise for that, but again, we can make no apology for the fact that we've made safety our number one priority.

Question: I think you covered my first question there, but what are the state and federal governments doing together to work together through this?

Darren Chester: The safety of our airports is a primary consideration for the Federal Government. They are federally leased airports and we are working with the airport owners, with security agencies, with our counter-terrorism forces to make sure we're doing everything we can to maintain safety for the Australian travelling public. We work in partnership obviously with our State Government counterparts in relation to Victoria Police on any other operation which may be required into the future.

But people need to understand that the changes being made have been made in their interests. There will be some delays and it may be frustrating for them, but it's better to be safe in these difficult circumstances. And we need to work with our security personnel at the airports, with staff involved in checking bags, operating the x-ray machines, and just encourage people to allow a little bit more time for their travel.

Question: Thanks. Anything else you want to say about that one?

Darren Chester: People should go about their business travel and leisure travel just like they would any other day, but recognise they may have to get to the airport just a bit earlier. There is additional safety requirements in place because we're focusing on making sure that, as much as we possibly can, safety remains our number one priority - WTD...

Press Conference, Doorstop - Melbourne Airport

Subjects: Additional airport safety requirements at Melbourne Airport.

Darren Chester: Can I start by first of all thanking Melbourne Airport and the major airports around Australia for the swift way they've operated the upgraded security arrangements across our nation this morning. I also want to thank the Australian travelling public for their understanding at a difficult time. There is a very genuine threat to security which was revealed last week and has resulted in some upgraded security provisions here at Melbourne Airport and other airports throughout Australia. The Government's certainly sorry for the inconvenience it's caused to the travelling public, but we make no apology for making safety our absolute priority, our number one priority...

...Darren Chester: Well, it's not for me to second guess the experts in relation to the security upgrades. It's a question of constantly monitoring and evaluating our security settings, and making sure that the appropriate response is in place. So these new provisions will be in place for as long as the security agencies advise us that that's the most appropriate course of action. We won't be second guessing the experts; our number one priority remains keeping the safety of the Australian travelling public at the absolute forefront of our minds.

Call me a cynic but I find the big noting and posturing on this issue by Malcolm in the middle and our totally useless aviation disaster minister, absolutely despicable and merely a timely political diversionary tactic. In reality our security/intelligence agencies and the Home Affairs department are just doing what us taxpayer's are paying them a lot of money to do.

Meanwhile in the real world of aviation this political beat up could end up being yet another nail in the GA industry coffin...

Cutting into a current industry stakeholder email chain discussion on the latest Aviation Security Identity Card impost to industry :        

This is an open email.

Michele Heran 
Stakeholder Engagement Group 
GICR  CASA

Michele,

Thank you for the answer to my question about Aviation Security Identity Card (ASIC) numbers. 

From a stakeholder point of view it would be instructive to know how many ASICs were issued ten years ago compared with actual figures of the last twelve months. From personal knowledge, and indicated by your figures, it would seem that a substantial proportion of pilots have given up renewing their ASICs because the system is too expensive (c.$300?), onerous (having to present papers in person at each renewal), and the validity period of only two years is unreasonable. 

Do you know if the BITRE decline of General Aviation study looked at these figures?

In the broader perspective, and in light of the recent potential airliner terrorist attack, surely it would make sense to encourage pilots to be in the system?

The more security cleared pilots that are frequenting airports the more eyes there would be on the lookout for suspicious behaviours. 

There could be many formulas to cause a major uptake of the ASIC by pilots, one method would be to increase the validity period and thus reduce the cost. For example one year extra validity for each renewal and untie the condition of having to have a current medical (non medical current pilots often fly with friends). 

In addition it seems extreme that where CASA has a lot of personal history of pilots, and especially of commercial pilots, instructors and the like, that there's no relief from the biennial requirements and expense of the ASIC which is undoubtedly contributing to the decline of GA.

Regards,

Sandy 

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The one country that got bombed The USA – not one airport requires security cards of any kind – all you require in the USA is that
·        You must carry your licence
·        You must carry your medical
 
The great Australian Bureaucracy strikes again.

Aminta
Aminta Hennessy OAM

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While agreeing with the sentiments completely I believe that the organisation which should take the blame is the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development.

I don't think that we can blame CASA for this one.

Regards 

Tony

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Aminta

All so true 

Public sentiment is against us after the weekend events unfortunately.

We should keep promoting harmonization with the US.

Particularly as they are the most homeland security conscience of all in the world . 
 
Marc De Stoop

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Tony, Aminta, Marc,

Thank you for your thoughts.
Tony as you say the ultimate responsibility is with the Dept. of Infrastructure, in what used to be the Westminster system of Ministerial responsibility it should be the Minister. 

Minister Chester is supposed to be in charge of both areas, but we have yet to see one decision of his, not one iota of actual policy that might interfere with his self serving bureaucracy on it's pathway of GA destruction.

CASA should be at the forefront of influence to the Minister for common sense, workable and affordable security measures when it involves aviation and GA in particular. The AFP and state police cannot be everywhere so it makes perfect sense to look to private citizens, in this case the aviation community, to keep watch in the areas of airports.

It is obvious that nothing will arrest GA decline until the government becomes sufficiently embarrassed and aware. Ministerial reforms, as opposed to bureaucratic procrastination and make work time wasting, are the only hope. 

Speaking to Barnaby Joyce last month he volunteered the need for a Minister of Aviation (junior portfolio). I'm hoping AOPA is looking at that reform and keeping it firmly to the front with MPs.

Kind regards to all,

Sandy 

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Thanks Sandy
An Aviation Minister is definitely AOPA and TAAAF policy.
More importantly is my personal preference to have CASA and ASA brought back into a  Dept of Aviation; like the FAA if you like. Stop the Minister hiding away from his or her responsibilities under the user pay, semi-autonomous, Govt Agency model. This has clearly failed the GA Industry in Australia. This model  is not replicated anywhere else in the world that I’m aware of.

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God love them has there ever been a letter from a bureaucracy that does not pass the buck?  To think the country keeps these people in the highest paid jobs in the world nearly.

Aminta

Meanwhile our walking, talking, aviation disaster buries his head in the sand...

Carmody's look at that??

...and leaves it all to the experts -  


MTF...P2