[Peetwo]

Another Senate Inquiry gets lost in limbo - 

Via the Oz: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/busines...bbfb58ecc2

Airfares inquiry stuck on tarmac
ROBYN IRONSIDE

An inquiry into regional air routes and the high cost of fares is at risk of being dissolved after another extension was granted for the final report.

The Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Services Committee was originally due to deliver its report by March 30 this year, but that was delayed to September and then December.

The Senate has now agreed to extend the reporting date to June 27 next year, which puts it after the next federal election.

Committee co-chairman Barry O’Sullivan would be retired by then but fellow chairman Glenn Sterle said he would push for it to continue. “Normally when a federal election is called all Senate inquiries cease and then it is at the behest of the new parliament (whether they are continued),” Senator Sterle said.

“It’s hard to give guarantees, but should there be a change of government … well I’m not stressed one little bit.”

The delay in the inquiry was due to the ongoing process of gathering information, and the committee’s desire to bring Australia’s major airline executives before a public hearing.

Senator Sterle said a “heck of a lot of information” had been requested from Qantas, Virgin Australia and Regional Express.

“We had plans for November 19 and 20 public hearings at this stage, and if we’ve been able to go through the information that we’ve requested we look forward to hearing from them there,” Senator Sterle said. “If we haven’t had the opportunity to go through it all we will postpone and find a later date.”

Cloncurry resident Hamish Griffin, who has campaigned against exorbitant airfares, said the community was frustrated by the time the inquiry was taking.

He was led to believe it was the airlines holding things up, in the hope the inquiry would go by the wayside after an election.

“It seems quite apparent they’re just trying to put up a roadblock to the point where everybody out here is thinking (about the inquiry) ‘that was a big waste of time’,” Mr Griffin said.

Senator Sterle denied any lack of co-operation from the airlines, and said it was the amount of information provided to the committee causing the delay.

In the meantime, Qantas recently announced an extension to its discounted fares program for residents in regional Australia, following a 12-month trial.

More than 6000 regional trips had been booked since the program was launched last November and Qantas Domestic chief executive Andrew David said it was recognition the airline had an important role to play in regional communities.

A Virgin Australia spokeswoman said the carrier was committed to providing reliable and consistent services throughout the regional flight network, as well as “great value fares”.

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The operation, regulation and funding of air route service delivery to rural, regional and remote communities

On 16 November 2017, the Senate moved that the following matters be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by 30 March 2018. On 8 February 2018, the Senate agreed to extend the reporting date to 20 September 2018. On 16 August 2018, the Senate agreed to extend the reporting date to4 December 2018. On 17 October 2018, the Senate agreed to extend the reporting date to 27 June 2019.
https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Bus...lAirRoutes

MTF? - Probably not! - P2 

Ps I guess that means Sterlo's proposed SI of the CASA has got buckley's and none being instigated before the calling of the next election...  

Reference: https://www.anao.gov.au/work-program/por...and-cities

Potential audit: 2018-19
POTENTIAL
Administration of regulation by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority
The audit would examine whether the Civil Aviation Safety Authority administers its legislative and regulatory responsibilities in an efficient and effective manner, consistent with the Australian Government’s Regulator Performance Framework and with other relevant standards and better practice principles.

Entity: 
Civil Aviation Safety Authority
Contact: 
Please direct enquiries through our contact page.

However, despite the fact that it's a bit like being slapped with a wet lettuce, would it not be possible for the committee (minus Barry O's vote) to ensure that the ANAO 'proposed' audit of CASA actually happens before the next election...  

MTF...P2