Senator Susan McDonald launches inquiry into Civil Aviation Safety Authority

Senator McDonald is chair of the federal Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, and the new inquiry will assess the effectiveness of CASA regulation on general aviation in the past 10 years.

Senator McDonald said the inquiry would try to establish how regulation in the sector had achieved CASA's stated aim of balancing safety, relative risk, and economic costs.

"It will look at the social and economic impacts of CASA decisions on charter businesses, helicopter mustering, agricultural operations and maintenance operators across regional, rural and remote Australia," she said.

"We want to examine the relevance of the Civil Aviation Act in relation to maintaining the highest safety standards while encouraging general aviation and training."

In October, the LNP Senator crossed the Senate floor to vote against new regulations CASA sought to impose on charity flights.

"I have spoken with participants in the general aviation industry who feel the past 10 years of rulemaking by CASA has not achieved the stated aim of balance," she said.

"This inquiry will look at people's concerns with CASA and deliver interim findings in December 2020, followed by a final report in November 2021."

The inquiry will look at safety, relative risk and economic impacts of aviation safety standards, particularly in regional and remote aviation, including legislative and regulatory frameworks, government advice and public consultation processes.

The committee will present its interim report on or before the final sitting day of December 2020 and its final report on or before the final sitting day of November 2021.