This just in... from Feb 2005
Deputy PM committed to air radar
By BRAD WORRALL
THE Federal Government has denied claims the installation of radar at Albury airport would not go ahead.
The election promise by Deputy Prime Minister Mr John Anderson would proceed as planned a spokesman from his office, Mr Bill McKinley, said.
“The decision to install radar at Albury is legally binding and will go ahead,” Mr McKinley said.
“Airservices Australia identified it as one of 10 regional airports where safety would be improved by radar.
“Nothing has changed since that time.
“Unless an independent analysis can show the airport is safer than the previous advice that recommended the radar then nothing will change in the future.”
Labor Senator Mark Bishop claimed that a cheaper option of air traffic control would and should be adopted.
The Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast technology allows planes to continuously broadcast their position, altitude and other data.
It also relies on all aircraft having transponders to report their position via the GPS system.
“We use the ADSB system in the centre of Australia where there is a radar black hole,” a Government spokesman said.
“The technology has enormous prospects in the future but at the moment is limited to aircraft travelling above 30,000 feet.
“It will be rolled out in time but at the moment it will not help improve air safety in the 10 regional centres identified by Airservices last year.”
It is understood that Airservices Australia is reluctant to spend the|$100 to $140 million required to implement the radar in the regional centres.
This new doubt, at the time, over the commitment to the policy probably stemmed from JA's
Media Release during the heady days of the 2004 Election campaign:
LABORS PLAN TO REDUCE SAFETY AT TEN REGIONAL AIRPORTS
The Labor Party's aviation policy shows again why it cannot be trusted to govern Australia.
The policy makes it clear that Labor would reduce aviation safety at ten major regional airports, compared to the level of safety under a re-elected Coalition Government.
The Coalition Government has directed Airservices Australia to install new radar facilities at Albury, Alice Springs, Coffs Harbour, Hamilton Island, Hobart, Launceston, Mackay, Maroochydore, Rockhampton and Tamworth.
The radar facilities will include primary and secondary surveillance radar, terminal control area workstations in the main Airservices Australia air traffic control centres, tower displays and VHF radio and communications links.
The new radar equipment will increase safety for the 3.8 million passengers a year who travel through these airports.
Labor would rescind the direction. It would not require Airservices Australia to install the radar equipment at these airports, because it says it would be too expensive. It is a shocking and cynical decision; it shows that Labor cannot be trusted with critical issues like aviation safety. - (My underlining)
Hmmm, so what does this say about John Anderson and his governments 'commitment', and degree of 'cynicism' then?
Australian Financial Review September 2, Page 3
Air traffic regulator and operator Airservices Australia yesterday said a last-minute directive from the federal government to install radar in a string of regional airports could cost the aviation sector, including Qantas, as much as $150 million.
Airservices spokesman Richard Dudley told The Australian Financial Review that the regulator learned of Transport Minister John Anderson's order only on Tuesday afternoon when a staff member spotted it on an aviation website.
Mr Anderson's move came after the Airservices board decided on Friday to introduce changes to airspace rules that will mean pilots at a number of regional airports will have to fly under the control of an air traffic controller not just upon landing and take-off as is now the case but also as they approach and circle above an airport.
In a move designed to improve safety, Mr Anderson said that "at the earliest time" Airservices should provide those airports affected by the change with an operating air traffic control tower and radar.
Mr Dudley said Airservices estimated about 10 airports would be affected, including Launceston, Hobart, Mackay and Alice Springs.
The cost of the radar, extra training and additional staff was expected to be about $150 million, he said.
But he said Airservices still had to clarify with the government where that money would come from, saying that if it did not come from the government, "it would be paid for by our customer base."
However, a spokesman for Mr Anderson said: "We're of the view that it won't be an impost on the general aviation sector."
Asked if the announcement had come as a surprise to Airservices, Mr Dudley replied: "Just a little."
"The board of Airservices Australia were certainly not consulted in relation to this direction."
A spokesperson for Qantas said the airline was aware of the change but would wait until it had a formal briefing from the government before making a comment.
Mr Anderson's spokesman said his impression was that the matter had been discussed with the regulator.
There seems to be little doubt when you read through the press articles at the time (Yes - I have them all archived) that the direction from John Anderson was politics of the highest (or is that lowest?) order, during the run up to an election campaign. Even Airservices Australia's response at the time was questioning, between the lines, the economic logic of it all.
Why is it really any surprise at all that the 'earliest time' has stretched out to now? The direction appears to be practically ambit.
I am sure you will agree(?)
BTW - this was the directive:
“I, JOHN DUNCAN ANDERSON, Minister for Transport and Regional Services, pursuant to s.16 of the Airservices Act 1995, give the following direction to AA.
If:
(a) On the date on which this direction commences, a volume of airspace above Class D airspace above an airport was classified as Class E airspace, and
(b) After the commencement of this direction, AA re-classifies that volume of airspace to Class C airspace, AA must, in performing its function under s.8 of the Airservices Act 1995 of providing facilities and services, provide an operating ATC control tower at the airport and an approach radar control service at the earliest time one can be supplied and installed."