Submission 23 (Dick Smith) & 24 (Confidential)
Via: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Bus...ubmissions
23 Mr Dick Smith (PDF 159 KB) Attachment 1 (PDF 1029 KB)
Dear Senators
RE: SUBMISSION - INQUIRY INTO THE CURRENT STATE OF AUSTRALIA’S GENERAL AVIATION INDUSTRY
As a former Chairman of both the Civil Aviation Authority and Civil Aviation Safety Authority, I believe the
inquiry into the current state of Australia’s General Aviation Industry must prioritise amending the wording
of the overarching Civil Aviation Act. Unless this is addressed, any change to underlying legislation will be
futile.
The Civil Aviation Act states:
“9A Performance of functions
(1) In exercising its powers and performing its functions, CASA must regard the safety of air
navigation as the most important consideration.”
The problem relates to the “absolute” wording that safety must be the most important consideration. This
wording fails to address the fact that there are different regulated levels of safety which relate to the type
of operation and the cost a passenger would be able to pay for a ticket. For example, a joy flight for three
passengers would be prohibitively expensive if conducted in a multi-engine turbine powered aircraft with
two flight crew.
This absolute statement in the Civil Aviation Act is resulting in the destruction of the general aviation
industry as regulations become increasingly expensive in order to comply. Operators cannot remain viable
with these increasing costs and the expectations of their passengers.
In February 2018, Transport Minister Barnaby Joyce and Shadow Minister Anthony Albanese agreed to
amend the Civil Aviation Act to the following wording, recognising the importance of high levels of safety
while emphasising the vital importance of general aviation in Australia.
“9A Performance of functions
(1) In exercising its powers and performing its functions, CASA must seek achieve the highest
level of safety in air navigation that is consistent with:
(a) Maintaining an efficient and sustainable Australian aviation industry, including a viable
general aviation and training sector
(b) The need for more people to benefit from civil aviation.”
The amendment was abandoned when Minister Michael McCormack replaced Barnaby Joyce...
24 Confidential
MTF...P2
Via: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Bus...ubmissions
23 Mr Dick Smith (PDF 159 KB) Attachment 1 (PDF 1029 KB)
Dear Senators
RE: SUBMISSION - INQUIRY INTO THE CURRENT STATE OF AUSTRALIA’S GENERAL AVIATION INDUSTRY
As a former Chairman of both the Civil Aviation Authority and Civil Aviation Safety Authority, I believe the
inquiry into the current state of Australia’s General Aviation Industry must prioritise amending the wording
of the overarching Civil Aviation Act. Unless this is addressed, any change to underlying legislation will be
futile.
The Civil Aviation Act states:
“9A Performance of functions
(1) In exercising its powers and performing its functions, CASA must regard the safety of air
navigation as the most important consideration.”
The problem relates to the “absolute” wording that safety must be the most important consideration. This
wording fails to address the fact that there are different regulated levels of safety which relate to the type
of operation and the cost a passenger would be able to pay for a ticket. For example, a joy flight for three
passengers would be prohibitively expensive if conducted in a multi-engine turbine powered aircraft with
two flight crew.
This absolute statement in the Civil Aviation Act is resulting in the destruction of the general aviation
industry as regulations become increasingly expensive in order to comply. Operators cannot remain viable
with these increasing costs and the expectations of their passengers.
In February 2018, Transport Minister Barnaby Joyce and Shadow Minister Anthony Albanese agreed to
amend the Civil Aviation Act to the following wording, recognising the importance of high levels of safety
while emphasising the vital importance of general aviation in Australia.
“9A Performance of functions
(1) In exercising its powers and performing its functions, CASA must seek achieve the highest
level of safety in air navigation that is consistent with:
(a) Maintaining an efficient and sustainable Australian aviation industry, including a viable
general aviation and training sector
(b) The need for more people to benefit from civil aviation.”
The amendment was abandoned when Minister Michael McCormack replaced Barnaby Joyce...
24 Confidential
MTF...P2