AUS: Review Of Bureau Of Air Safety Investigation

6 August 1999

A114/99

Review Of The Bureau Of Air Safety Investigation

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport and Regional Services, John Anderson, has received the final report of the review of the Bureau of Air Safety Investigation (BASI) that was announced on 9 February 1999.

Mr Anderson said: "The McGrath Report confirms that Australia's overall aviation safety record compares well with worldwide aviation accident rates. For ten years, across all regular public transport operations, Australia had 0.07 fatal accidents per 100,000 hours flown compared with a worldwide average of 0.097 fatal accidents per 100,000 hours. Australia's high capacity air services recorded no fatalities at all.

"Mr Paul McGrath AM found that BASI makes a significant contribution to the maintenance and enhancement of aviation safety and receives widespread industry recognition and support.

"He also found that BASI's relationship with the major airlines was appropriate."

The report states that: "Put simply, much about BASI is very good and has the potential to be made better. What is needed now is significant improvement in strategic focus and fundamental management skills to create an organisation that would be even more favourably regarded."

Mr Anderson said that his departmental Secretary, Dr Allan Hawke, had requested that the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) develop a strategic business plan this month and then commence regular reporting on progress in addressing the report's 58 recommendations.

"BASI has passed its 'health check' and now has an opportunity to become even more effective as part of the new ATSB, working more strategically and proactively with all of its stakeholders to maintain and improve Australia's aviation safety systems and record. The other bodies in the ATSB will also benefit from being able to access BASI's expertise."

The report can be located at: http://www.atsb.gov.au/review

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