Senate inquiry into CASA and GA
On 3 Dec ’19 it was announced a two-year Inquiry has been launched into the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and the General Aviation industry (GA).
The Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee (RRAT) will conduct a two-year inquiry into CASA to gauge the effectiveness of regulation it has applied to GA in the past 10 years. RRAT Chair, Nationals Senator
Susan McDonald from Qld, said the aim of the inquiry is to establish how regulation imposed on GA had achieved CASA’s stated aim of balancing safety, relative risk, and economic costs.
The inquiry will look at the social and economic impacts of CASAs decisions on charter businesses, helicopter mustering, agricultural operations and maintenance operators across regional, rural and remote Australia,” she said. “We want to examine the relevance of the Civil Aviation Act in relation to maintaining the highest safety standards while encouraging general aviation and training. “I have spoken with participants in GA and many feel the past 10 years of rulemaking by CASA has not achieved the stated aim of balance.
“This inquiry will look at people’s concerns with CASA and will deliver interim findings in December 2020, followed by a final report in November 2021.”
Senator McDonald has established herself as a champion of aviation in Australia, most famously crossing the floor to vote with independent senators on the Community Service Flight legislation disallowance motion in October. McDonald was the only coalition member to do so. She was elected to the Senate for QLD in the 2019 Federal Election and made RRAT Chair in July. In detail: 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 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 reference to: 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; andthe engagement of CASA with other relevant Australian Government agencies; 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;
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; andits ability to broaden accessibility to regional aviation across Australia, considering the associated benefits of an expanded aviation sector; and any related matters.
The committee will present its interim report on or before the final sitting day of December 2020 and will present its final report on or before the final sitting day of November 2021. Contacts: Committee Secretary. Senate Standing Committees on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport, PO Box 6100, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600. Tel: +61 2 6277 3511. E:
[email protected]