Julie Collins (Franklin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Regional Development and Local Government) Share this | Hansard source

Labor welcomes the minister's statement, as we did when the minister announced this review into aviation safety. Australia does have an excellent record on aviation safety—something that, I am pleased to say, this report recognises. Before I go any further, I want to make one thing crystal clear: the Australian Labor Party regards aviation safety as a non-political, bipartisan issue.

There are many issues that come before this House upon which we have different views, based on our different political positions and priorities. We can argue about the budget—which we should, given the number of broken promises it features and its attack on average families. We can argue in question time, which we do on a daily basis. But on aviation safety we are on a unity ticket. There are no politics in aviation safety. Indeed, every member of this parliament should see aviation safety as their responsibility. We should all accept that the job is never finished and that our aim must be continuous improvement. This is especially so, given the constant technological change in the aviation sector, which contributes about $7 billion a year to the Australian economy. It is a dynamic industry that requires dynamic and well-resourced regulators. Those regulators need to be well-staffed by the best experts available, and they need to be nimble and alive to the constant changes in the industry.

In office, Labor reformed the aviation sector through a properly planned green and white paper process that left the coalition an aviation sector in good shape. Indeed, my colleague the member for Grayndler served as transport minister with distinction. More recently, as the shadow minister, the member for Grayndler and Labor have continued to take a bipartisan approach, backing the production of this report and agreeing to the government's move to add extra directors to the CASA board.

The Aviation Safety Regulation Review is extensive. Its 37 recommendations bear close examination because they literally concern matters of life and death. It is pleasing to hear that there were 269 submissions to the inquiry and that the minister intends to take public comment on the report. Governments are not the font of all wisdom on aviation safety. Experts within the sector have much to contribute to the process of reform, and it is fitting that the minister appears to be going out of his way to consult widely. Labor welcomes the minister's indication that he will expedite detailed government consideration of the report and respond in due course.

We also welcome the minister's commitment to make written submissions public. Transparency in all areas of government is important, but, on aviation safety, people's confidence in this review and the government's considerations related to it will be elevated if the process is transparent.

There is no point rushing to judgement and making declarations about this review. Labor will treat this report with the seriousness that it deserves. Beyond offering our genuine commitment to be a constructive contributor to the process, we will assess the report in full before commenting in detail about its contents. But our starting point is very simple: any reasonable measure that improves aviation safety in this country deserves our support.

In his contribution, the minister outlined the general thrust of the recommendations, including his intention to include the aviation sector in the government's broader agenda for deregulation. It is important that the minister said that any reduction of regulatory cost to industry should not come at the expense of safety. Labor agrees. The previous Labor government did much to reduce red tape, particularly across a range of sectors through the Council of Australian Governments. We also want to reduce costs for industry. But any changes need, as the minister said, to be carefully considered in light of whether they affect safety. We just cannot be too careful.

On behalf of the opposition, I would also like to thank the review panel for its work, including chairman David Forsyth, and the panel members Don Spruston and Roger Whitefield. The member for Grayndler appointed David to chair Airservices Australia in 2008 and, under his leadership, the board led a major program of investment in critical safety infrastructure, air traffic services and training of skilled personnel. I also thank those who made submissions. This kind of work can actually save lives. The opposition appreciates your efforts, and, as I have made clear, will work with government on the report in a constructive way, putting safety ahead of all other considerations.

Let me end by quoting the minister's earlier contribution. As the minister said:

Safety will always remain the government's highest priority.

That is as it should be. I offer an identical commitment from the opposition.

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