Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) Share this | Hansard source

Starting with the last part of the question, of course this government is not complacent about air safety. To make that sort of unfortunate assertion does the senator no credit whatsoever. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau’s investigation into the Lockhart River accident has not yet been finalised. There is no suggestion in their interim reports that the accident was due to any failure by CASA 17 months ago, albeit that was implied by Senator O’Brien in a media release. The reports state that the aircraft was operating normally at the time of the accident, with no defect or malfunction evident. After the accident, CASA applied a higher level of audit and surveillance. This clearly shows that Transair was under continuous and appropriate CASA scrutiny and that the nature and scope of the audits was progressively increased.

The director of aviation safety has assured himself that there is no imminent threat which would prevent Transair flights continuing at this time. The recent decision by CASA to cancel Transair’s AOC, as well as other actions against Transair that have occurred since 2001, are the result of CASA’s surveillance of the air transport sector, and this reflects CASA’s willingness to take action.

That is the information that I have been provided with. We know that from time to time Senator O’Brien seeks to ask questions and raise issues about CASA. Just recently he issued another media release about these issues. From the government’s point of view, we are very concerned about air safety for all Australians. We have a bureau that is undertaking that task, and the government sees no reason why the people of Australia should not have confidence in the way it is undertaking its tasks.