Notice given 9 November 2006

2628  Senator Marshall: To ask the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts—

(1) What plans does Australia Post have for: (a) changing its country network processing arrangements in Victoria; and (b) the licensing of Australia Post shops in Victorian rural areas.

(2) What actions have already been undertaken by Australia Post to change its country network processing arrangements in Victoria.

(3) Does Australia Post have any plans for: (a) moving any further country postings in Victoria to the Dandenong Letters Centre; and (b) contracting out country deliveries in Victoria.

(4) Will changes by Australia Post to its Victorian country network processing arrangements result in slower rural mail delivery.

(5) Have changes by Australia Post to its Victorian country network processing arrangements resulted in job losses.

Senator O’Brien: To ask the Ministers listed below (Question Nos 2631-2650)—

(1) Has the department instituted an internal costing or cost recovery system; if so: (a) what was the reason for instituting this system; and (b) can details be provided of the costs associated with instituting this system.

(2) As at 30 September 2006: (a) how many staff are there at each Australian Public Service (APS) level (including executive and senior executive level staff) by business unit, division or branch; and (b) what is the average salary of staff at each APS level (including executive and senior executive level staff) by business unit, division or branch.

2631 Minister representing the Prime Minister

2633 Minister representing the Treasurer

2634 Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs

2635 Minister for Finance and Administration

2636 Minister representing the Minister for Trade

2637 Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing

2638 Minister representing the Attorney-General

2639 Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts

2640 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs

2641 Minister representing the Minister for Defence

2642 Minister representing the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources

 2643 Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations

2644 Minister for the Environment and Heritage

2645 Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

2646 Minister representing the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

2647 Minister representing the Minister for Education, Science and Training

2648 Minister for Justice and Customs

2649 Minister for the Arts and Sport

2650 Minister representing the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs

2651  Senator Bob Brown: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry—With reference to the decision to destroy the ancient forest in Weld River coupe WR15F:

(1) (a) What is the necessity for the planned deforestation; and (b) what alternatives are available.

(2) (a) What buffer will be kept between logging and the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area; and (b) how will this be managed.

(3) (a) Does this buffer or lack thereof, accord with World Heritage respect and values; and (b) have World Heritage experts agreed with this; if so: (i) who are the experts, (ii) what is their complete advice, and (iii) when was it given.

(4) (a) What areas of the coupe will not be logged; (b) why; and (c) on whose advice.

(5) Will Gunns Limited be a receiver of wood products from the coupe; if so: what volume and percentage of the commercial wood will go to Gunns Limited.

(6) Has the Minister inspected logging in the World Heritage value forests of the Weld; if so, when; if not, why not.

(7) Will the Minister, as part of his portfolio responsibilities, visit the Weld River coupe WR15F to ensure Tasmania’s World Heritage values are not contravened in any way while the current Minister is in office.

2652  Senator O’Brien: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Transport and Regional Services—

(1) Can the Minister confirm that the cancellation of Transair’s air operator’s certificate (AOC) by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) on 24 October 2006 was not disclosed to the public until the opposition asked questions about the matter at the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee estimates hearing on 30 October 2006 (Committee Hansard , p 109).

(2) Why did CASA fail to disclose the cancellation of Transair’s AOC on 24 October 2006.

(3) Did CASA propose to keep the cancellation a secret until the expiry of the automatic stay period or a decision by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal on an application to review the cancellation was made.

(4) Has CASA previously published notices of AOC suspensions and cancellations on its website; if so: (a) when did this policy change; and (b) why.

 (5) Is it the case that disclosure of AOC suspensions and cancellations are in the public interest.

2653  Senator O’Brien: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Transport and Regional Services—With reference to the memorandum ‘CASA’s relationship with industry - a new definition’, published by Mr Bruce Byron, the Chief Executive Officer, Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), on 11 October 2006:

(1) Did the Minister approve the publication of the memorandum.

(2) Does the Minister agree that a focus on compliance with regulations is ‘no longer a viable approach to safety as it is simplistic and not based on any analysis of the ever changing risks the aviation industry faces’.

(3) What analysis has CASA undertaken that shows that a focus on compliance is not a viable approach to safety.

(4) How is a failure to focus on compliance with regulations consistent with Australia’s obligations under Article 12 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention) which requires each contracting state to ‘adopt measures to insure that every aircraft flying over or manoeuvring within its territory and that every aircraft carrying its nationality mark, wherever such aircraft may be, shall comply with the rules and regulations relating to the flight and manoeuvre of aircraft there in force’ and ‘ensure the prosecution of all persons violating regulations applicable’.

(5) Does the Minister agree with Mr Byron’s decision to place ‘far less emphasis on getting involved in the detail of organisations through issuing administrative notices such as request for corrective action’.

(6) Is it the role of CASA’s to demand corrective action when it identifies breaches of safety rules.

(7) Can the Minister substantiate Mr Byron’s claim that ‘the amount of industry surveillance has and will continue to increase’.

(8) Has the restructure announced by Mr Byron in February 2006 enhanced or diminished CASA’s capacity to undertake industry surveillance; if it has enhanced CASA’s capacity, how has that capacity been enhanced.

(9) Why does Mr Byron’s memorandum fail to make reference to CASA’s obligation to the travelling public.

2654  Senator O’Brien: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Transport and Regional Services—

(1) Did the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) cancel Transair’s air operator’s certificate (AOC) on 24 October 2006.

(2) Under what section of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 was the AOC cancelled.

(3) Can a copy of the written cancellation notice be provided.

(4) (a) How was the notice served; and (b) to whom was it served.

(5) On what date, and in what form, was CASA advised that Transair intended to make an application to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) seeking a review of CASA’s decision to cancel the AOC.

(6) On what date did Transair make an application to the AAT seeking a review of CASA’s decision to cancel the AOC.

 2655  Senator O’Brien: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Transport and Regional Services—

(1) Can the Minister confirm that the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) cancelled Transair’s air operator’s certificate on 24 October 2006 because the company failed to fulfil its obligations under an enforceable voluntary undertaking (EVU) entered into on 4 May 2006, and to respond to show cause notices issued on 14 August and 26 September 2006.

(2) Which of the seven undertakings listed in the EVU did Transair fail to fulfil.

(3) Why did not CASA apply to the Federal Court of Australia for an order under section 30DK(7) of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 in relation to breaches of the terms of the EVU.

2656  Senator O’Brien: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Transport and Regional Services—

(1) (a) Which specific breaches or grounds were notified in the show cause notice issued to Transair on 14 August 2006; and (b) how was the notice served.

(2) (a) Was Transair invited to attend a show cause conference related to this show cause notice; if so, on what date and in what form; and (b) if a conference was conducted: (i) on what date, (ii) what was the location, and (iii) who attended.

(3) (a) Which specific breaches or grounds were notified in the show cause notice issued to Transair on 26 September 2006; and (b) how was this notice served.

(4) (a) Was Transair invited to attend a show cause conference related to this show cause notice; if so, on what date and in what form; and (b) if a conference was conducted: (i) on what date, (ii) what was the location, and (iii) who attended.