Kerry O'Brien (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Transport) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Abetz, the Minister representing the Minister for Transport and Regional Services. Can the minister confirm that the Civil Aviation Safety Authority is set to adopt the new minimum standards for pilot training of only 10 hours actual flight time from 23 November this year? Can the minister also confirm this when, according to safety data supplied by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, misinterpretation by flight crew members of information or instructions has increased by 36 per cent this year? Can the minister assure the Australian public that safety standards in Australian aviation will not be relaxed? Will he now rule out any change to standards that would compromise safety in Australian air space?