Statement of Expectations for the Board of Airservices Australia for the Period 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2017

Administered by Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts

Legislation au F2015L00861 Not in force Legislative Instrument

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EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

 

 

2015 STATEMENT OF EXPECTATIONS FOR THE

BOARD OF AIRSERVICES AUSTRALIA.

 

 

 

 

 

 


Statement of Expectations – Airservices Australia

 

Outline

 

The Statement of Expectations (the Statement) was issued by the Government as a notice of strategic direction under Section 17 of the Air Services Act 1995 to Airservices Australia (Airservices).

 

Section 17 of the Air Services Act 1995 provides that the Minister may notify Airservices in writing of the Minister’s views on the appropriate strategic direction for Airservices and the manner in which it should perform its functions.

 

The Statement of Expectations outlines the Minister’s expectations for the agency in regards to its operations and performance over the period 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2017. 

 

The new Statement also replaces the previous statement which was issued by the then Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, on 29 April 2013.

 

The Statement emphasises the need for Airservices to perform its functions in a manner that supports Government policy initiatives including the Government’s response to the Aviation Safety Regulation Review Report.  Airservices is also expected to comply with relevant legislation and to keep the Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development and the Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development (the Department) informed of Airservices’ actions and initiatives.

 

Other major areas covered by the Statement include Airservices’ infrastructure investment programme, careful management of Airservices’ capital expenditure programme, implementation of environmental initiatives, effective stakeholder engagement and workforce planning. 

 

The Statement outlines the Government’s expectations in relation to the way Airservices conducts its functions and the need for consultation with the community, industry and Government agencies.

 

Details of the Statement of Expectations are set out in the Attachment.

 

Airservices was consulted in finalising the Statement.

 

Notices issued under Section 17 of the Air Services Act 1995 are a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.

 

The Statement of Expectations commences on 1 July 2015 and expires on 30 June 2017. 

 

Authority: Section 17 of the Air Services Act 1995.

 


ATTACHMENT

 

 

Details of the Statement of Expectations

Introduction

The introduction repeals the previous Statement of Expectations for the Board of Airservices Australia (Airservices) for the period from 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2015 and establishes that this Statement of Expectations is a notice of strategic direction to Airservices under Section 17 of the Air Services Act 1995.  The Statement of Expectations will commence on 1 July 2015 and stops having effect at the end of 30 June 2017. 

Items 1-2 – Legislative and Governance Reporting

These items require the Board to ensure Airservices acts in accordance with the Air Services Act 1995, Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 and other relevant legislation and legal instruments.  The Board is also expected to keep the Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development (the Minister) and the Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development (the Secretary) informed about the activities and initiatives of Airservices.  The Board of Airservices is also expected to alert the Minister and the Secretary if any issues or events impact the operations of Airservices.

Item 3 – Stakeholder Engagement

This item requires Airservices to effectively consult with the community, industry and Government in relation to the development and implementation of significant changes to air traffic and aviation rescue and fire fighting services.

 

Item 4 – Implementing Relevant Government Air Traffic Initiatives

The Government has a number of ongoing air traffic management and other airspace policy initiatives including outcomes arising from the Government’s response to the Aviation Safety Regulation Review Report.  Effective implementation of these initiatives will require Airservices to work in conjunction with the Department, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and the Department of Defence.

 

Item 5 – Provision of Information, Assistance or Advice

This item requires Airservices to provide information and advice to other Government agencies to assist in their performance of regulatory and policy functions, including relevant aviation and airport studies.

 

Item 6 – Environmental Responsibilities

This item requires Airservices to play a key role in supporting the Government’s initiatives in relation to the management of environmental impacts of aircraft operations, including aircraft noise.  Airservices is expected to implement agreed recommendations from the Aircraft Noise Ombudsman, provide and report against a detailed annual environmental work plan and continue to work on the wider use of Required Navigation Performance (RNP) at Australian airports in consultation with the community and industry.

 

 

Item 7 – Airport Planning

This item requires Airservices to contribute to a coordinated approach to airport planning including the appropriate participation in a number of cross agency, industry and community forums such as planning coordination forums and community aviation consultation groups. 

 

Item 8 – Provision of Aviation Rescue and Fire Fighting Services (ARFFS)

Airservices will continue to provide ARFFS functions for civil and joint user airports where required by the establishment criteria set out in aviation safety regulations.

 

Item 9 – Joint Civil and Military Aviation Harmonisation

This item requires Airservices to continue to work with the Department of Defence, to enhance civil and military aviation harmonisation to realise the benefits of improved safety, better investment in personnel and infrastructure, seamless systems compatibility and smarter procurement practices.  The provision confirms that Airservices will act as the lead agency in the joint future air traffic control system project.

 

Item 10 – Future Investment in Technology and Infrastructure

This item articulates the need for Airservices to support investment in aviation infrastructure, including at regional airports.

 

Item 11 – Efficient Delivery of Airservices Capital Expenditure Programme

This item requires Airservices to ensure it delivers its future capital expenditure programme in an efficient and timely manner and on budget.

 

Item 12 – Sustainable Workforce Planning

This item requires Airservices to focus efforts on human resources issues.  Airservices must develop and implement proactive recruitment, training and retention polices that are consistent with Government workplace policies and publish an annual update to Airservices’ workforce plan.

 

Item 13 – Asia-Pacific Regional Aviation Safety

Australia has an important role to play in assisting our regional partners to meet their air traffic management responsibilities.  Airservices will continue to support the Australian Government’s aviation safety initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region. 

 

Items 14 – Public Sector Professionalism and Accountability

This item reflects that Airservices should operate in a manner consistent with the standards expected of a highly professional public sector organisation with a strong culture of accountability and transparency.

 

 

Overview

The Statement of Expectations for the Board of Airservices Australia was issued by the Government as a notice of strategic direction under Section 17 of the Air Services Act 1995. This Statement outlines the Minister’s expectations for the agency concerning its operations and performance over the period from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2017. It replaces the previous statement issued in 2013 and underscores the importance of Airservices performing its functions in a manner that supports government policy initiatives, including the response to the Aviation Safety Regulation Review Report. The Statement also highlights the need for Airservices to comply with relevant legislation, maintain communication with the Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development and the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development, and effectively manage its infrastructure investment programme, capital expenditure, environmental initiatives, stakeholder engagement, and workforce planning. These expectations are intended to guide Airservices in conducting its functions and ensure alignment with broader governmental objectives.

Scope and Application

The Statement of Expectations issued under Section 17 of the Air Services Act 1995 serves as a strategic directive for Airservices Australia, outlining the Minister’s expectations for the agency’s operations and performance over the specified period from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2017. This legislative instrument is targeted specifically at Airservices Australia, a Commonwealth entity responsible for the provision of air navigation services. The Statement addresses a wide range of operational and strategic areas, including compliance with relevant legislation, stakeholder engagement, environmental management, and the implementation of government air traffic initiatives. The directive emphasises the need for Airservices to align its activities with broader government policy initiatives, particularly in response to the Aviation Safety Regulation Review Report, and to ensure effective consultation with the community, industry, and other government agencies. The geographic and jurisdictional reach of this directive is limited to Airservices Australia and does not extend to other entities or industries, although its implications may affect various stakeholders within the aviation sector. The Statement of Expectations itself does not specify exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds but rather sets out specific expectations in various operational domains. The directive is comprehensive in its coverage, including legislative compliance, stakeholder engagement, environmental initiatives, and workforce planning, among others. While the Statement does not extend its application through subordinate instruments, it is a notice of strategic direction that requires Airservices to operate within the broader framework of relevant legislation and government policies. The Statement’s scope is clearly defined, and it ceases to have effect at the end of 30 June 2017, thereby necessitating a review and potential reissuance for subsequent periods.

Key Provisions

The Statement of Expectations, issued under Section 17 of the Air Services Act 1995, provides the Minister's strategic direction for Airservices Australia over the period from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2017. This Statement replaces the previous directive issued on 29 April 2013. The core provisions of the Statement include expectations for Airservices to align its operations with government policy initiatives, notably the response to the Aviation Safety Regulation Review Report (Items 1-2). Airservices is mandated to consult with the community, industry, and government on significant changes to air traffic and aviation rescue and fire-fighting services (Item 3). It must also effectively implement government air traffic initiatives, collaborate with relevant agencies, and provide necessary information and advice to other government bodies (Items 4-5). Environmental responsibilities, such as managing aircraft noise and supporting environmental initiatives, are also highlighted (Item 6). Airservices is expected to contribute to coordinated airport planning and ensure efficient delivery of its capital expenditure programme (Items 7-11). Additionally, Airservices is tasked with enhancing civil and military aviation harmonisation, supporting regional aviation safety initiatives, and ensuring sustainable workforce planning (Items 9-13). The Statement imposes several obligations on Airservices. Firstly, the Board is required to ensure that Airservices operates in accordance with the Air Services Act 1995, the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013, and other relevant legislation (Item 1). The Board must also keep the Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development and the Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development informed about Airservices' activities and initiatives, as well as any issues impacting its operations (Item 2). Airservices must effectively engage with stakeholders, including the community, industry, and government, to implement significant changes in air traffic and aviation rescue and fire-fighting services (Item 3). Furthermore, Airservices is expected to work collaboratively with other government agencies, such as the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, and the Department of Defence, to implement relevant government air traffic initiatives (Item 4). Airservices is also required to provide information, advice, and assistance to other government agencies to support their regulatory and policy functions (Item 5). Breach of the obligations outlined in the Statement of Expectations may lead to various consequences. While the Statement itself does not explicitly detail specific penalties for non-compliance, failure to meet the expectations set forth could result in governmental scrutiny, potential loss of funding, or other administrative actions. Additionally, if Airservices' operations are found to be non-compliant with relevant legislation or legal instruments, it may face legal consequences under the Air Services Act 1995 or other applicable laws. Furthermore, ineffective stakeholder engagement or failure to implement government initiatives could lead to reputational damage and reduced trust in the agency's ability to manage aviation services effectively. Continuous failure to meet these expectations may also impact Airservices' ability to secure future investments and support from the government.

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Administrative Law
Aviation Law
Instrument
Legislative Instrument
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Reporting & Disclosure Obligations
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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.