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

My question is to Senator Abetz representing the Minister for Transport and Regional Services. Does the minister recall asserting on Monday:

The new MPL has not been adopted by Australia; it is subject to a review ... this government will not agree to anything that sacrifices the safety of passengers.

Will the minister now correct the record and confirm that CASA knew in February that Boeing’s training arm, Alteon, would start Australia’s first MPL course in Brisbane next month and produce its first batch of so-called qualified pilots by January 2008? Was not the syllabus of this course in fact given to so-called ‘industry partners’, which, according to Alteon, include CASA, as early as April this year? How can CASA maintain an appropriate arms-length relationship with the industry at the same time as being considered an industry partner? Can the minister guarantee that no multi-crew pilot licence training will be conducted in Australia until the promised consultative process is completed?