Three key aviation industry bodies in Australia are pleased with the aviation policy expressed by the Liberal-National Party Coalition.
Regional Express (Rex), the Regional Aviation Association of Australia (RAAA) and The Australian Aviation Associations' Forum (TAAAF) have all made statements backing the policy released by Shadow Minister Warren Truss last week.
Some of the stated initiatives of the policy included:
- An additional $3.5 million to support regional aviation by introducing a new and better targeted En Route Rebate Scheme for regional commercial airline carriers
- A high-level external review of aviation safety and regulation in Australia
- Better utilisation of Australian airspace, including tasking Airservices Australia with fast-tracking technological and navigational improvements
- Revitalise the General Aviation Action Agenda and establish a regular dialogue with the general aviation sector to address industry issues
- enhance aviation skills, training and development by undertaking a study into skills shortages in the broader aviation industry
- Ensure that aviation security measures are risk based and implemented in a practical and common sense way.
Lim Kim Hai, Rex’s Executive Chairman said, “The Coalition’s Policy addresses critical areas that have been devastating to aviation, especially in the regional aviation sector, and responds to some issues raised in the aviation policy papers presented by the Regional Aviation Association of Australia, The Australian Aviation Associations’ Forum, and Rex over the last two years.
“Aviation has been decimated by bad policies and neglect for the best part of the last decade and today it is on its knees with Virgin Australia, Tiger and the Qantas Group all bleeding heavily and in a dangerous tailspin. If Mr Truss gets into government I trust that he will keep his election promises and faithfully carry out the agenda set out in his aviation policy. Regional aviation has suffered too much in recent times from broken promises and neglect and deserves better going forward.”
The RAAA welcomed the Coalition’s aviation policies, stating they were "a good start and show that the Coalition has at least been listening to industry concerns ... that have been shared with the Shadow Minister over a number of years."
“The new policies are light on funding," said RAAA Chairman Jeff Boyd, "but we are willing to work with any incoming government to help them trim the bloated bureaucracies, encourage further efficiencies and have the industry climbing again.”
One of the funding shortfalls is the $3.5 million subsidy scheme promised, which is significantly less than the $6 million of the last scheme, but still welcomed given that there has been no subsidy since July 2012.
TAAAF Chairman Chris Manning was upbeat about the Coalition policy.
"Warren Truss has got something out there that has come from the industry and
its forums and it's refreshing to see," he told Australian Flying.
"I think Warren Truss is pretty
serious about this policy. His last time as Minister, albeit relatively short,
should stand him in good stead if he again becomes Transport Minister and he
seems to have listened to the industry in developing the Coalition aviation
policy.
"The Coalition policy seems to reflect what the industry is
asking for. This is a positive policy and it's always good to see something
positive in aviation. It's also good that the industry seems to be welcoming
this rather than being negative about it from the outset."
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