CATHERINE KING – MEDIA RELEASE – MORRISON GOVERNMENT CUTS TO CASA RISK AVIATION SAFETY – WEDNESDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2020

A senate inquiry into general aviation has heard of the urgent need for the Morrison Government to support the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).

In its Senate submission Professionals Australia, who represent workers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, has found that over recent years, staffing numbers in CASA’s Southern Region office – covering Victoria, Tasmania and regional New South Wales – have dropped from 53 to just 24.

At the same time, the submission finds that the number of full-time CASA Safety Systems Inspector positions in Brisbane has fallen from 6 to 1.4.

For those staff who do remain, morale has plummeted with less than one third of employees feeling that their work was valued by the organisation.

CASA is an essential safety agency. It regulates Australian aviation, licensing pilot, registering aircraft and ensuring that our aviation sector remains safe.

Australia’s proud record of aviation safety is due in large part to the hard work of people at CASA. If they are to continue to keep Australians safe in the air, workplace standards and sufficient staffing levels will need to be maintained.

It up to the Morrison Government to deliver the support this agency and its staff need.

Failing to do so poses serious risks to Australia’s travelling community.

WEDNESDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2020