Wed "The Australian"
Politics grounds air safety chief
By Steve Creedy, Aviation writer
July 23, 2003
AIR safety boss Mick Toller is quitting the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 10 months early, saying he feels unsuited to the increasingly political nature of the job.
Mr Toller will end his tenure as CASA director on August 8 in the wake of a government decision to restructure the authority and replace his position with a new chief executive's role. The changes, due to go through federal parliament later this year, abolish the authority's board and make the chief executive more accountable to the Transport Minister.
Mr Toller had indicated in November he was willing to take on the new job. But he decided to leave next month as it became clearer as to what the post entailed, and on the assumption he would not be reappointed when his contract expired next July.
He said yesterday he had no doubt the changes would make the job more political, and that he felt there were others who could serve CASA better in that environment.
Transport Minister John Anderson denied that Mr Toller had been sacked, saying his departure was "a joint conclusion" and entirely amicable. "Mick himself has come to the conclusion that the new arrangements are not such that would particularly suit him," he said.
"I concur with that view. So does the board."
Deputy aviation safety director Bruce Gemmell will step into the director's role, pending the appointment of a permanent replacement within the next four to six weeks.
Mr Anderson ruled out a return to CASA for former chairman Dick Smith. A ministerial spokesman said later that Mr Smith had played no part in Mr Toller's departure.
Mr Smith became a strident critic of the chief regulator after the two clashed over airspace reform early in Mr Toller's tenure. Friction between the two ultimately forced Mr Smith's resignation.
Mr Toller courted further controversy over the handling of the aviation fuel contamination crisis in 2000, CASA's handling that year of the fatal Whyalla Airlines crash and the grounding of Ansett in 2001. But he is credited with bringing stability and reform to CASA.
Mr Anderson said Mr Toller had done a demanding, turbulent and difficult job with distinction.
"He's ensured that CASA has been prepared to take tough action when required, even though at times that's been very unpopular."
Opposition transport spokesman Martin Ferguson called on the Government to ensure that Mr Toller's replacement was capable of resisting pressure on issues such as airspace reform.
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