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Popinjay Supp Estimates 23-24 AQON (so far)?? -   

Via RRAT Supp Estimates webpage:

67. ATSB - Date Minister was advised of Mr Mannings term expiring

290. ATSB - involvement in the process of filling Board appointments announced in August and October

291. ATSB - Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchells involvement in retiring members or proposed appointments to Board

Senator Bridget McKenzie asked:

Was the Chief Commissioner, Angus Mitchell consulted or asked for his view on either the
retiring members or proposed appointments?

Answer:

Yes.

292. ATSB - Details of Chris Mannings appointment to Board

293. ATSB - Details of Mr Wilsons appointment to Board

296. ATSB - Chief Commissioners review of 2021-22

Senator Bridget McKenzie asked:

1. Chief Commissioner ’s review 2021–22 states that ATSB ‘flagged our ongoing concern
about collisions between trading ships and small vessels on the Australian coast’ following
an incident in February 2020. What additional actions have been taken to mitigate the risk
of these collisions?
2. In 2021-22 the ATSB failed to meet the performance criterion that ‘85% of safety issues
[are] addressed in the previous financial year’. Given that only 74% of safety issues were
addressed in 2021-22, what needs to happen to meet this performance criterion?
3. In 2021-22 the ATSB missed its target median times to complete short (8 months),
defined (16 months) and systemic (22 months) investigations. How can ATSB investigations
be completed within the target times?
4. Despite a substantial increase in air traffic, the ATSB received approximately $500,000
less in government funding in 2021-22 compared to 2020-21. Did this impact the agency’s
functions?

Answer:

1. There were three collisions between trading ships and small vessels between 2015 and
2018 and a further collision between a fishing boat and bulk carrier on 29 February 2020
(investigated by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) as MO-2020-001). That
investigation (and others previously) highlighted the importance of maintaining an
adequate look out and the value of surveillance technology to increase traffic
awareness. The ATSB continues to monitor such occurrences and notes that there have
not been any collisions related to inadequate look out over the last few years.

2. The ATSB is a ‘no-blame’ safety investigator and does not have any power to enforce the
addressing of safety issues identified during ATSB investigations. However, the ATSB
does work with safety issue owners to encourage appropriate safety actions, both
during an investigation and afterwards. Some safety issues take time to address,
especially when new regulations are involved. As such, safety issues will continue to be
addressed in later years. For 2021-22 this particular measure was not met as a number
of safety issues identified in that year rolled over into 2022-23 where they were
addressed. This is reflected in the 2022-23 ATSB Annual report which shows that for the
2021-22 year, 85 per cent of safety issues had been addressed.

3. The ATSB has been actively targeting the performance of investigation times, and this is
reflected in the 4-year decreasing median for Short and Defined investigations shown in
the 2022-23 ATSB Annual Report. Measures in place are restricting the number of active
investigations to an average of two per investigator, adherence to a project
management approach to investigations, and an even distribution of investigations
across three directors. In 2023, the ATSB strategic plan led to a dedicated Short
investigation team (to conduct the majority of office-based short investigations), and a
dedicated Data Recovery team, Safety Analysis and Research, Marine investigation team
and Rail investigation team. While there will always be some variability in the length of
investigations depending on complexity (especially the larger systemic investigations),
the above measures are expected to continue to reduce the median time of
investigations in the forthcoming years.

4. To ensure, as far as practicable, that the ATSB can resource the investigations it takes
on, the ATSB limits the number of investigations to an average of two per investigator
(although investigators work across multiple investigations). With the ATSB’s present
resourcing this accommodates approximately 90 investigations a year across aviation,
marine and rail. There are currently no budget measures associated with industry
growth, however the Australian Government provided an additional $4.6 million in the
2023-24 Budget (in addition to its ordinary annual appropriation) to allow ATSB to retain
a staffing base of 110 ASL and conduct safety investigations across all modes of
transport within its remit. The Government has commissioned a Review of Operations
and Financial Sustainability of Australia’s Transport Safety and Investigatory Bodies,
announced in the 2023-24 Budget, which is expected to make recommendations to
Government relating to agency resourcing.

298. ATSB - Locations of Commissioners and staff of ATSB

299. ATSB - Independent investigation of transport accidents in 2021-22

300. ATSB - Safety data recording analysis and research in 2021-22

Senator Bridget McKenzie asked:

What proportion of time and budget did the ATSB work on safety data recording, analysis
and research in 2021-22? 

Answer:

The ATSB does not break down its activities/resources into specific streams that would allow
it to isolate the resources allocated directly on safety data recording, analysis and research
in 2021-22.

301. ATSB - Fostering safety awareness knowledge and action in 2021-22

Senator Bridget McKenzie asked:

What proportion of time and budget did the ATSB work on fostering safety awareness,
knowledge and action in 2021-22? 

Answer:

The ATSB does not break down its activities/resources into specific streams that would allow
it to isolate the resources allocated directly on fostering safety awareness, knowledge and
action in 2021-22.

MTF...P2