White Paper cops flak, but defenders vocal
Now that the holiday season is over, and there's been time to fully digest the White Paper released immediately before Christmas, we are starting to see reaction from industry.
Yesterday we published the response of RAAA CEO Paul Tyrrell. Now here's s statement issued following a Canberra meeting last week of the Australian Aviation Associations Forum:
Forum participants unanimously expressed thanks to the Government for undertaking a thorough policy review resulting in a comprehensive aviation policy document, but expressed disappointment in the White Paper.
They indicated that the Government had missed a great opportunity to establish more aviation jobs in Australia and to help the industry deliver better services to Australians.
Participants said that the white paper was little more than a description of the past and present initiatives with little or no vision for the future.
Forum members agreed that the policy does little to address government costs imposed on the industry, and nothing to paint a vision for a vibrant and growing aviation industry in the same way that comparable countries such as Brazil and Canada have.
Issues of particular concern discussed by forum participants included:
• Lack of government engagement with industry, its concerns and suggestions
• Lack of recognition of the importance of aviation infrastructure to the nation
• Lack of rationale for security measures (aircraft weight based), implementation and costings
• Lack of detail in addressing the long-term aviation skills shortage
• Urgent need for improvements in the aviation liability regime
• CASA regulatory ‘reform’ schedule and ‘consultation’
• Overall cost impositions by government and lack of consistency
Forum participants indicated that they would continue to work with the Government and relevant departments to address the many outstanding issues.
The forum’s participating associations represent tens of thousands of pilots, aviation business owners, employees, airport operators, airlines, aircraft charter companies, maintainers and sport aviation enthusiasts in the aviation industry across Australia.
Individual forum participants will be able to comment in depth on their particular areas of concern and expertise.
Interestingly, despite the comprehensive mix of industry sectors represented at last week's meeting, only five associations put their names to the above communiqué.
They were the Aerial Agricultural association of Australia, the Australian Airports Association, the Australian Business Aircraft Association, the Regional Aviation Association of Australia and the Royal Federation of Aero Clubs of Australia.
That may suggest a lack of conviction - or it may mean that some delegates to the Forum are wary of alienating bureaucratic forces.
Certainly the results of our informal poll on the Aviation Business website reflect widespread disappointment with the White paper, but there also plenty of supporters out there.
The airlines were quick to express their support for the Paper - and we have taken calls from some industry luminaries who, while admitting that the White Paper might have delivered more, it is still a landmark document for the industry.
For instance, industry figurehead Peter Lloyd told us that "while the White paper may not have great vision it still provides a solid basis for moving forward". He described the document as "the best step forward in aviation in this country in 50 years".
Your contribution to the debate is welcome - either here now, or via email.
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reader comments
This is personal perspective... The White Paper exercise was worthwhile in that it articulated all government aviation policies in a single document. This is useful as at least the industry has a starting point. What is not apparent is the Government’s vision for aviation in Australia – the document in the main being a collection of current and previously announced policies. Of course there were some initiatives eg Qantas shareholding, security items, CASA cost maintenance etc, but these by themselves give no vision and are tactical rather than strategic moves. Why no apparent vision? Is it because aviation has languished in the backwater of government for over twenty years now - Kim Beazley being the last Minister for Aviation, in the first and second Hawke Ministries? Is it the notoriously fractious industry itself? Perhaps the answer is a combination of the two. Aviation currently sits as a minor part of Anthony Albanese’s mega ministry and with no industry lobby group to bring pressure, does the industry get the attention it deserves? Obviously, some industry players’ lobbying is successful but I am referring to the industry as a whole. Given this, the government should be commended for committing to a White Paper. The trouble with it is that it raised expectations, as evinced by the 300 – 500 submissions – the number depends on which government spokesperson to whom you listen. They seem to have, according to many of the parties involved, either been ignored or not given the weight expected. So where to from here? Although it is most likely ‘pie in the sky’ it would be a step forward to have either a junior minister or a parliamentary secretary for aviation under Minister Albanese – someone whose sole responsibility is this industry. How the current minister manages his mega ministry as well as being leader of the House is beyond me. No-one expects to go back to the days of having a Minister for Civil Aviation, but a halfway house would at least give a parliamentary focal point for the industry. Maybe, in the absence of any comprehensive industry group, have an aviation council or some such body that would represent major facets of the industry, but would not be too large or unwieldy. This would be a conduit for industry sentiment and be an interface between government and the industry. This may step on some sensitive toes, but the current arrangements don’t seem to be getting us too far. There needs to be argument and discussion about the way forward and this cannot happen unless the industry feels confident that its views will be listened to without worrying about any adverse consequences, imagined or otherwise, for speaking out. I note that the Minister ‘think(s) it is important that industry take up the opportunity that the White Paper presents them to engage them as well’. It will be interesting to see how he envisages this engagement occurring as currently there are no mechanisms for this to happen. If this proves impossible then maybe the industry needs to start charting its own course whilst acknowledging the significant role that government and its agencies occupy.
C Manning on 15-Feb-10 10:25 AM
The Aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Business Association (AMROBA), a Forum participant, also endorses the communiqué.
Editor on 08-Feb-10 11:00 AM
The Australian Sport Aviation Confederation, (ASAC) – which represents the interests of well over 100,000 aviation participants – believes that the Aviation White Paper recently produced by the Government, being the first such document, represents the most significant policy initiative taken by this or previous Governments for many years. This policy document summarises in writing, for the first time ever, current Government Aviation policy, creating a firm basis for ongoing discussion, development and timely implementation of initiatives necessary for the future development of the Industry. A White Paper is not intended to present a detailed position paper on each and every issue identified but this is an overarching document developed with extensive industry involvement (some 360 submissions were made by industry bodies and individuals) which, for the first time, documents current government thinking, allowing a firm basis for future evolution and implementation of these policies. This paper makes clear that the Government is taking responsibility for strategic planning for the Aviation Industry and it behoves the Industry to respond and become directly involved in the evolution and implementation of these strategies.
Mike Close on 08-Feb-10 09:10 AM
Whilst the white paper is no road map to the future, it nevertheless provides for the first time a worthy platform to stimulate debate on the critical issues in the context of our time. The challenges of course will be for the government to develop real aviation policies for the future and for all industry stakeholders to vigourously contibute to the process.
Paul Bredereck on 04-Feb-10 01:04 PM
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