Senator WOODLEY —My question is addressed to the Minister representing the Minister for Transport and Regional Services, Senator Ian Macdonald. I ask the minister: what progress has there been in the government's announced intention to re-establish the G airspace trial between Canberra and Ballina? What is the timetable for re-establishing the trial? What measures will the government be taking to ensure the near misses and safety problems that occurred during the last trial are not repeated?

Senator IAN MACDONALD (Regional Services, Territories and Local Government) —I thank Senator Woodley for that question.

Senator Faulkner —Of course, of course! Of course you do.

The PRESIDENT —Order! I warn opposition senators that the behaviour that has been going on this afternoon is disorderly and will not be tolerated.

Senator IAN MACDONALD —Senator Woodley has an ongoing interest in aviation matters. In fact, he has asked—

Senator Carr interjecting—

The PRESIDENT —Senator Carr, I remind you of the standing orders.

Senator IAN MACDONALD —He has asked a number of questions about aviation matters. I can recall answering about three or four in this chamber. I observe, in passing, that the Labor Party have not asked one since I have been in this position.

Senator Faulkner —I rise on a point of order. Madam President, it is quite clearly disorderly for Senator Macdonald to talk about Labor Party questions when answering a question from Senator Woodley. He ought to continue with his shameless crawling to the Australian Democrats.

The PRESIDENT —There is no point of order.

Senator IAN MACDONALD —I was simply observing, in response to interjections from the Labor Party, that you never get a serious question from them about policy issues.

Senator Faulkner —Madam President, I rise on a point of order. Quite clearly Senator Macdonald is out of order in answering the question in this way. I ask you to rule him out of order. He has been given a dorothy dix by Senator Woodley. Why doesn't he get on and answer it?

The PRESIDENT —There is no point of order.

Senator IAN MACDONALD —Madam President, I keep responding to the interjections by the Labor Party. I should not do so.

The PRESIDENT —I think you should perhaps ignore them, Senator, and deal with Senator Woodley's question.

Senator IAN MACDONALD —I appreciate that, Madam President. Last year, as Senator Woodley would know, because he follows this—the Labor Party have no interest in it whatsoever—CASA conducted a trial of class G airspace in the Canberra-Ballina corridor. The trial was concluded on 13 December by Mr Mick Toller, the Director of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The key feature of the proposed changes to class G airspace is that they introduce radar based information in the airspace for the first time, subject to availability. I am aware of recent press quotes—and that is what Senator Woodley was perhaps referring to—from Mr Toller stating that changes to G-class airspace will go ahead and that Airservices Australia is drafting a sensible timetable for introduction of the new changes.

On 11 January this year, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority published a summary of responses to industry comments relating to the trial of changes to G-class airspace. The summary contained a new partial proposal for changes to class G airspace in terminal areas, taking into account the responses collected. In releasing the new partial proposal, CASA has once again sought industry comment and that comment period closed on 28 February this year. CASA is now reviewing the comments received. No changes are expected to the class G airspace over the next nine months pending the outcome of the BASI investigation into last year's trial and the full implementation of the TAAATS program. The government is committed to regulatory reform in aviation and will continue to seek significant progress towards best practice. I emphasise, as always, that for the government, and for Senator Woodley obviously, safety is paramount in these reforms.

I conclude by again thanking Senator Woodley for the question. He does have an interest in this topic. I find it a little sad that the opposition do not take an interest in these matters. They never seem to be interested in any sensible policy position and can only be negative about this, as they are about all things.

Senator WOODLEY —Madam President, I ask a supplementary question. I thank the minister for his answer. Arising out of that answer, particularly the reference to media reports, I ask the minister about a comment by the Acting Chairman of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Mr Paul Scully-Power, who was reported in the Australian newspaper recently as telling staff that they must `get on with the job of restoring public confidence in the authority'. I ask the minister: what will the government be doing to repair the damage done to CASA and to public confidence in Australia's air safety regulation during the regime of the former chairman?

Senator IAN MACDONALD (Regional Services, Territories and Local Government) —The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has released draft proposals to restructure CASA. As Senator Woodley and government senators would know, there has been some concern about the efficiency of CASA and for that reason CASA undertook this consideration of restructure. The proposed new structure outlines the arrangements to support CASA's three core areas of safety compliance, safety standards and safety promotion. CASA is responding to concerns that have been raised and is working in a very constructive way, consulting inter ested aviation bodies, to make sure it is very effective in doing what it is there to do, and that is to regulate safety for Australian airlines.

Senator Hill —Madam President, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper .