[Peetwo]

'To be or not to be' - 2020 to 2022??

Via the RRAT lapsed inquiry webpage: 

Australia's general aviation industry

Under Standing Order 25 (2) (a), the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee will inquire into and report on the current state of Australia's general aviation industry, with particular reference to aviation in rural, regional and remote Australia.

The committee will consider the operation and effectiveness of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and other relevant aviation agencies, with particular reference to:

a. the legislative and regulatory framework underpinning CASA's aviation safety management functions, including:

• the application of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 to Australia's aviation sector, and whether the legislation is fit for purpose;
  
• the safety and economic impacts, and relative risks, of CASA's aviation safety frameworks; and
  
• the engagement of CASA with other relevant Australian Government agencies;
  

b. the immediate and long-term social and economic impacts of CASA decisions on small businesses, agricultural operations and individuals across regional, rural and remote Australia;
c. CASA's processes and functions, including:

• its maintenance of an efficient and sustainable Australian aviation industry, including viable general aviation and training sectors;
  
• the efficacy of its engagement with the aviation sector, including via public consultation; and
  
• its ability to broaden accessibility to regional aviation across Australia, considering the associated benefits of an expanded aviation sector; and
  

d. any related matters.

The committee presented its interim report on 10 December 2020, and was due to report 30 November 2021.

On 20 October 2021, the Committee agreed to extend the reporting date to 17 March 2022.

On 16 March 2022, the Committee agreed to extend the reporting date to 20 October 2022 and provide an interim report on 30 March 2022.

According to the Senate Committee's Secretariat the GA inquiry at this stage (despite the above) will remain lapsed unless the Committee decides to re-refer for further inquiry. The Committee meets over the next couple of days so we should know by the end of the Parliamentary working week whether the inquiry (like so many before it) will be shelf-wared for all eternity.  

 Despite many detractors for former Chair Senator McDonald's GA 20/20 inquiry I believe this part of the ToR... 

    "..the application of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 to Australia's aviation sector, and whether the legislation is fit for purpose.." 

...has definitely not been properly examined with proper factual evidence (30+ years of overburdening regulatory red tape that has lead to the decimation of a once burgeoning GA aviation industry) providing impetus to some serious reform of the CAA. Perhaps that segment alone should be referred to the RRAT Legislative Committee for amendment to the Act to officially disband CASA to be brought back under Ministerial and Departmental control?? - Just saying...

MTF...P2