JOINT PRESS RELEASE
The Hon. Warren Truss, Shadow Minister for Trade, Transport & Local Government
Leader of the Nationals
Senator Guy Barnett, Liberal Senator for Tasmania
COALITION TO INVESTIGATE RADAR USE IN
AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
FOCUS ON LAUNCESTON
Wednesday 18 August, 2010
A Coalition Government will commission a review into the use of radar in Australia’s air traffic
management, with a particular focus on Launceston, Shadow Minister for Transport and Leader of the
Nationals, Warren Truss, and Liberal Senator, Guy Barnett said today.
The review will obtain international expertise to ensure that Australia uses radar in the best possible
way to ensure the safety of our skies. The review will have a particular focus on Launceston following an
incident in the area more than two years ago.
“Plainly, Labor is not interested in this issue,” Mr Truss said.
The review will consider the conclusions of the ATSB report on the Launceston incident and whether the
better use of radar could have prevented it.
Senator Guy Barnett welcomed the announcement on behalf of Tasmanians.
Senator Barnett said, “The fact that it took Australia’s safety authority, the Australian Transport Safety
Bureau two years to report on a near
‐miss incident that took place over Launceston, is unacceptable.”
“Mr Truss said, “A Coalition Government will ensure that Australia’s air management agencies are
resourced properly,”
A Coalition Government will also seek to make Australia a global leader in flight training. The Trade
Representative for Services, to be appointed by a new Coalition Government and the Australian Trade
Commission, will be tasked to promote Australia’s pilot training services around the world.
Australia is one of the best places in the world to learn to fly and obtain skills in the aviation industry.
The Coalition will build on this by seeking to enhance Commonwealth loan assistance for commercial
pilot training. Australia has highly professional aviation sector and a Coalition Government will keep it
that way.
“I am also concerned that the Federal Labor Transport Minister Anthony Albanese refused my invitation
to attend a stakeholder’s forum on air safety in Tasmania,” said Senator Barnett.
“What could be more important for an island state than air safety?
Media Contact: Philip Clayton – 0414 317441