[Peetwo]

ATSB Inquiry update - 18/09/19: CASA AQON...

Via the APH inquiry webpage: 

1  Questions taken on notice at a public hearing in Sydney, NSW on 4 September 2019 by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. Answers received 17 September 2019.

Hmm...in reference to AQON 2, have you ever read such a complete and utter weasel worded load of BOLLOCKS...

Community Service Flights Senate Inquiry – Questions on Notice – ‘Initial

thoughts’ on CASA’s approach to the application of the proposed amendment to
section 9A of the Civil Aviation Act
Question:
Page 31 – Hansard Proof
Senator PATRICK: . . . . When the new bill [Civil Aviation Amendment Bill 2019] comes
through, how do you intend to change the approach of CASA? Maybe that's for Mr Crawford.
Dr Aleck: May I take that on notice? The analysis of what sorts of things you take into
account and how you weigh them up is not, strictly speaking, a legal issue.
Senator PATRICK: Sure.
Dr Aleck: What we're looking at now is: what would our obligation be if those provisions
become law? Bear in mind that they are prefaced by: 'subject to the safety requirements'—
Senator PATRICK: Of course. Safety is paramount.
Dr Aleck: Right.
Senator PATRICK: But now there's a new consideration for you.
Mr Crawford: Yes, and we're well aware of that.
Senator PATRICK: I think the committee would be interested in your initial thoughts on that,
even though the legislation hasn't gone through the lower house.

Answer:

CASA is carefully considering the most appropriate approach to take in relation to the
requirements set out in the proposed amendment to section 9A of the Civil Aviation Act. We
are doing so with a view to giving meaningful and fair effect to those provisions, if and when
they should become part of the law. In developing this approach, CASA has regard to:
(a) the scope of the proposed amendment, which focuses on the development and
promulgation of aviation safety standards under paragraph 9(1)© of the Civil
Aviation Act, noting that ‘aviation safety standards’ is a defined term in the Civil
Aviation Act;
(b) the object of the proposed amendment, which is recognised in the Explanatory
Memorandum accompanying the bill as reflecting existing regulatory practice;
© the explicit provisions of the proposed amendment, which specify the matters CASA
is expected to consider (namely, the economic and cost impact of the standards
being developed and promulgated), and the risks CASA is expected to take into
account when developing or promulgating aviation safety standards (namely, the
risks associated with the relevant industry sector(s), which the proposed standards
are meant to address); and 
(d) CASA’s obligation to ensure that, in all cases, the safety of air navigation remains the
most important consideration.

If the amendment as it currently appears in the bill is adopted, these ‘initial thoughts’ are
expected to inform and govern the way in which CASA proceeds when determining the
nature, scope and depth of the particular approach we will take in any given case to identify
and evaluate the facts and circumstances relevant to the development and promulgation of
aviation safety standards in that case.

So in other words (I think??) 'nothing to see here'; i.e business as usual, nothing will change... 
MTF...P2