Infrastructure Minister Warren Truss confirmed that there will be a review of Australia’s safety regulation by the end of 2013.
Addressing Safeskies 2013 in Canberra today, the Minister specifically said that the review would be conducted by “a qualified and experienced member of the international aviation community”; but that wording does not rule out a local being given the job.
“Civil Aviation Safety Authority is well advanced in rewriting Australian aviation regulations—a process that has been underway for more than 20 years—and it is not without its critics and controversy,” Truss said.
“This review will help ensure Australia maintains best practice in aviation safety.
“Australia's aviation safety record is internationally recognised as a very good one.
“However, I believe that it is time to examine our aviation safety framework and identify where improvements can be made.
“The future success of Australian aviation fundamentally depends on maintaining its impressive safety record and improving on it wherever possible…
“The Review will be expected to consult with all interested parties to make sure we achieve the best possible outcomes.
The review will examine:
- the structures and processes of the Government's aviation safety agencies, and how they work together
- the outcomes and direction of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's regulatory review process; and
- the benchmarking of our regulatory framework against international best practice.
The Minister said that he expects to release final details, including the terms of reference and time frame, before the end of this year.
“When the review is completed and the Government has considered its recommendations, I will issue CASA with a new strategic direction under Section 12A of the Civil Aviation Act 1988.”
Speaking later the same morning CASA chief John McCormick said that he welcomed the review and was confident it would show that his organisation was productive and on track.