Dr Lawrence asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 25 August 1997:

(1) Did RAAF F/A 18 aircraft fly over the Fremantle region on Wednesday, 18 June 1997; if so, what was the purpose of the flights.

(2) What guidelines does the RAAF observe in order to consider the interests of residents affected by the noise generated by flights.

(3) Who was charged with the responsibility of considering the impact on residents of the exercise of 18 June 1997.

(4) How many complaints about the flights were received by RAAF Base Pearce or other agencies.

(5) Why did the aircraft fly over a built up residential area.

(6) At what altitude were the aircraft flying over the Fremantle region.

(7) For what duration was the exercise or flight.

(8) How many aircraft were involved.

(9) Who approved the flight path and controlled the air traffic.

(10) Why was the airspace over the south western suburbs of Perth chosen for the exercise.

(11) To what extent were officers, including public relations officers, at RAAF Base Pearce briefed on the proposed aircraft movements.

(12) What efforts were made to inform the public about the impending exercise.

Mr McLachlan —The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

(1) Yes; to conduct a Rapid Deployment Exercise (RDEX) to RAAF Pearce to test No 81 Wing rapid deployment capabilities. While in Western Australia, the aircraft participated in urban counter-terrorist training exercises with the Perth-based Special Air Service Regiment (SASR), and training with the RAAF's flying school at Pearce.

(2) Current Defence Instructions require aircraft captains, air traffic control and maintenance personnel to ensure that unnecessary aircraft noise nuisance to the public is avoided during the operation of aircraft. Wherever possible, each operation is conducted to avoid flying over livestock and populated areas. If, because of this requirement, the efficiency and effectiveness of the operation may be unduly prejudiced, aircraft are flown with appropriate vertical and horizontal separation to minimise noise levels, or at such times that noise nuisance is unlikely.

(3) No 77 Squadron senior executives.

(4) Twenty seven noise complaints were received by RAAF Pearce and one Ministerial representation on the matter was investigated by No 81 Wing RAAF Williamtown.

(5) The flights involved air support for SASR urban counter-terrorist training involving the simulated delivery of precision weapons against targets in the Perth suburban area.

(6) Aircraft generally flew at 15,000 feet altitude. However, on occasions aircraft were required to descend to a minimum of 3,500 feet altitude because of weather conditions. This altitude was in excess of the minimum allowable 1,500 feet altitude over built-up areas and the minimum safe altitude of 3,000 feet for the sector.

(7) No 77 Squadron conducted three sorties on Wednesday 18 June 1997. The flight times were 2.00 pm, 6.00 pm and 7.00 pm. Each sortie lasted approximately one and a half hours.

(8) Six aircraft.

(9) The Perth Air Traffic Control agency of Airservices Australia and RAAF Pearce.

(10) SASR conducted the ground activity of the exercise in the Fremantle Docks area, an ideal scenario for this type of training. The ground training area is close to Swanbourne, the location of the SASR. The airspace over the south-western suburbs of Perth was used in order to successfully support the SASR ground activity.

(11) Essentially, only people with an operational role in the exercise were informed of the impending activity. This was due to the `no notice' nature of the exercise. Prior knowledge of the deployment was limited to a need-to-know basis for personnel at RAAF Pearce.

(12) The RAAF issued a press release to 22 media agencies on 17 June 1997, and a media opportunity day was held at RAAF Pearce on 18 June 1997. Wider dissemination of the impending exercise prior to the deployment would have jeopardised the purpose of the exercise.