The Regional Aviation Association of Australia (RAAA) has launched a policy document which specifies the outcomes it is working towards to aid an ailing regional sector.
The document, which covers several areas of concern including government policy, safety/security, funding, the carbon tax, airport access/charging and skills shortages, was revealed at the RAAA’s second annual summit at Parliament House Canberra on Tuesday this week.
Amongst the main policy objectives are:
- A minister of Aviation or at least a parliamentary secretary, alongside a ministerial Aviation council
- A governmental attitude of fostering and promoting Aviation and the recognition of airports as critical national infrastructure
- The removal of the regulatory process from CASA and the process to be undertaken in partnership with industry
- Regulatory reform in harmony with the global scene, without unique Australian regulations
- A specific risk-based approach to security screening
- CASA funded totally out of consolidated revenue
- Re-establishment of the En Route Rebate Scheme
- The removal of the carbon tax
- ACCC oversight of regulated pricing at capital city airports and guaranteed access to those airports for regional services
- Lifting of the cap at Sydney Airport and a review of the curfew
- Price regulation of larger regional airports.
The summit was addressed by current Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Catherine King, the Shadow Minister for Transport Warren Truss and Greens senator Lee Rhiannon.