Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Fielding, I am not able to assist you in this regard to the precise times at which the government advised the airlines. This is a question that is the responsibility of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. They have advised airlines that they are able to operate in accordance with their safety management systems, and plans to avoid forecast and actual areas of volcanic ash were provided. But I do not have the precise time at which that was done. What we have seen is that CASA's actions in this event would be consistent with those of the civil aviation authorities in New Zealand. Airservices Australia and CASA have both been monitoring the large volcanic ash plume, with the assistance of the Bureau of Meteorology volcanic ash advisory centres. Australia does not generally close airspace for events of this type, and procedures adopted by Australia focused on ash avoid­ance, as most aviation bodies internationally have done. Our actions are quite consistent with international best practice. Procedures to accommodate the avoidance of ash have been established by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, which defines the responsibilities of member states, and Australia has met those responsibilities to the full.