Senator O'Brien asked the Minister representing the Minister for Transport and Regional Services, upon notice, 11 November 1998:

(1) When did the Air Traffic Services Enterprise Based Agreement (ATSEBA) come into effect and what is the life of the agreement.

(2) (a) Does the ATSEBA contain rostering principles that allow for up to 10 days straight to be worked, including emergency duty and overtime; and (b)does the Agreement contain an agreed mechanism to enable the variation of these rostering principles; if so, what is that mechanism.

(3) (a) Has the manager of Sydney airport, Mr Jim Ludlow, issued an edict limiting the maximum number of consecutive days worked to 8 days; (b) is Mr Ludlow's action a breach of the Agreement; (c) why did Mr Ludlow institute the change; and (d) when did it come into effect.

Senator Ian Macdonald (Regional Services, Territories and Local Government) —The Minister for Transport and Regional Services has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

The following answer is based on information provided by Airservices Australia.

(1) The current Airservices ATSEBA came into effect on 29 June 1998, when the agreement was certified by the AIRC and will remain in force for three years from that date.

(2) (a) Yes. The ATSEBA contains provisions regarding rostering principles and sick leave for Air Traffic Controllers which were introduced under the ATSEBA which took effect in September 1992.

(b) Yes. By negotiating a change to the Rostering Principles with the Union (Civil Air Operations Officers Association) and reflecting the change in a letter of agreement.

(3) (a) Yes.

(b) No. The ATSEBA simply specifies a maximum number of shifts, which may be worked.

(c) The change was instituted to address workload and fatigue concerns, particularly in consequence of two safety incidents in which fatigue was a possible factor. It was considered that regularly working the maximum ten consecutive shifts could have been detrimental to staff health and attendance and it was decided that no more than eight consecutive shifts would be worked.

(d) It came into effect on 23 June 1998.