[Peetwo]

Industry feedback on Chester dumping;  -

Via Oz Aviation:

Darren Chester loses Cabinet seat in reshuffle, with Barnaby Joyce new minister responsible for aviation

December 19, 2017 by australianaviation.com.au
A file image of Darren Chester.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce will take ministerial responsibility for aviation matters following a cabinet reshuffle.

Joyce, who was recently re-elected back into Parliament after being ruled ineligible when it was discovered he was a dual citizen, is the new Minister for Infrastructure and Transport.

The Nationals leader, Member for New England in the House of Representatives and Deputy Prime Minister replaces Darren Chester, who has been left out of Cabinet following the reshuffle.

Chester, the Member for Gippsland, said it had been an enormous honour to serve as Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, which he described as the “best portfolio possible”.

“I’m proud of the work my team and I have done on behalf of the Government and I’m sorry we won’t get to finish off some of the jobs we’ve started,” Chester said in a statement.

“Naturally, I’m disappointed by The Leader of the Nationals’ decision to exclude me from his Cabinet team. Politics can be a tough business for all involved.

“But life goes on and I will continue to serve the Turnbull government.”

New Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Barnaby Joyce. (Minister’s Instagram account)

Chester, who became Minister for Infrastructure and Transport in 2016 when he replaced the retiring Warren Truss, said he was looking forward to continuing to serve the people of Gippsland with “passion, enthusiasm and determination for many years to come”.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull appointed five new members to Cabinet as part of the reshuffle announced on Tuesday.

“I have to say, Darren has been an outstanding minister, I regret that this has resulted in him no longer being a member of the ministry,” Turnbull was quoted as saying on ABC News.

Australian Airports Association (AAA) chief executive said she looked forward to a continued focus on efficient infrastructure that met the needs of the community and economy from Minister Joyce.

“The infrastructure sector is part of the fabric of the Australian economy, and we welcome Mr Joyce to this important portfolio,” Wilkie said in a statement.

“We look forward to continuing to engage with the Federal Government on the key issues facing the sector.”

Wilkie also thanked Chester for his contribution to the sector over the past two years.
In other aviation-related appointments, Peter Dutton was formally named as Minister for Home Affairs, a new portfolio which has responsibility for the Australian Federal Police, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, and the Australian Border Force and therefore security at the nation’s airports.

Dutton was named to lead the new so-called super ministry in July 2017.

Wilkie said: “Airport safety and security is a top priority for our members, and we look forward to working with Mr Dutton in his new capacity as Minister for Home Affairs.”

& more on the CASA Board reshuffle, via Oz Flying:

CASA Director Jane McAloon in her role as National Chair of the Defence Reserves Support Council. (Department of Defence / Jay Cronan)

Department reshuffles CASA Board
19 December 2017

Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester yesterday announced changes to the board of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).

Experienced industry director Jane McAloon has joined the board and Anita Taylor has been re-appointed. Departing the board are Ian Smith and Murray Warfield.

Chester said the appointment of McAloon will bring a wealth of relevant board and governance experience to the role, including working in regulated industries in the public and private sector in transport and infrastructure.

McAloon has been at various times National Chair of the Defence Reserves Support Council, a director of Healthstate, Energy Australia and sciences company Cogstate, a special advisor for consultancy Gresham Partners. Among other industry positions, she was also Group Company Secretary of BHP Billiton for nine years.

“These appointments will support critical reforms underway at CASA, and completion of the remaining parts of CASA's regulatory reform program,” Chester said.

“I would like to thank Mr Ian Smith AM and Mr Murray Warfield for their valuable contribution to the CASA board over the past three years.

“I look forward to the board continuing to set the strategic direction of CASA, while also working with the diverse aviation sector to maintain Australia's strong safety record.”
Another board member with aviation experience is expected to be appointed early next year.

Read more at http://www.australianflying.com.au/lates...y84iMFG.99

& Carmody believes CASA's job is done on ASRR -

Also via Oz Flying:

CASA CEO and Director of Aviation Safety Shane Carmody. (Steve Hitchen)

CASA has acted on All ASRR Recommendations: Carmody
19 December 2017

CASA CEO and Director of Aviation Safety Shane Carmody today announced that CASA had acted on all recommendations arising from 2014's Aviation Safety Regulation Review (ASRR).

The ASRR made a total of 37 recommendations, of which the government of the day agreed with 20 and gave in-principle agreement to another 12 and rejected one outright. Not all of the recommendations related to CASA, with some falling under the responsibility of the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development, and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

"CASA has either completed actions flowing from the Government's response to the recommendations, incorporated solutions into ongoing activities or announced plans to take action on recommendations," Carmody said today.

"There are two recommendations where actions will be taken in 2018 – a review of the penalties in the aviation safety regulations and the completion of the remaining parts of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations.

"I have made it clear CASA will be striving to finalise the last 10 parts of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations by the end of 2018.

"My intention is that these parts will be made or be ready to be made, with implementation to take place over an appropriate and staged timeframe.

"Most of the Aviation Safety Regulation Review recommendations are now ongoing as they are embedded into CASA's new policies, processes and procedures. Many of these will take time to bed down but we are making significant headway."

Carmody also revealed he had been collaborating with ASRR chairman and report author David Forsyth to track progress.

In early 2016, Forsyth assessed that CASA had completed only 29% of the reforms that applied to them, but indicated today that progress had been made since then.

"While a number of issues are still in work, there is clear progress on necessary improvements and re-establishing a trust based relationship with industry," Forsyth said.
Carmody also reiterated his belief in the value of the ASRR and the impact reforms are having.

"The review was a very important and valuable benchmarking exercise that has focussed CASA on making worthwhile improvements that are now paying dividends to the aviation community," he said.

Read more at http://www.australianflying.com.au/lates...iEYVp5o.99

Hmm...passing strange that this week's SBG - The trick that wins the rubber. - would appear to highlight that the CASA Sydney Regional Office has missed the Carmody memo on embracing the ASRR reforms and indeed the DAS's very own instruction/directive on CASA adopting a 'just culture' - refer: E is for?? Part II: Proof is in the pudding; or Legerdemain– a handy skill. - so who is a poor dumbass knuckledragger meant to believe?


MTF...P2