Statement of Expectations
For the Board of Airservices Australia
For the Period 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2017
 
 
Introduction
 
This instrument repeals the previous Statement of Expectations for the Board of Airservices Australia for the period 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2015 made under Section 17 of the Air Services Act 1995.
 
This instrument puts in place a new Statement of Expectations (SOE) which serves as a notice of strategic direction to Airservices Australia (Airservices) under Section 17 of the Air Services Act 1995. This new SOE will commence on 1 July 2015 and stops having effect at the end of 30 June 2017. 
 
The new SOE outlines in a formal and public way, my expectations concerning the operations and performance of Airservices. 
I expect that the Board of Airservices will:
 
1.    ensure that Airservices acts in accordance with the Air Services Act 1995, Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (and associated regulations) as well as other relevant legislation and legal instruments; and
 
2.    keep me and the Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development (the Department), fully informed of Airservices’ actions in relation to the initiatives and activities stated below, and alert me to events or issues that may impact on the operations of Airservices, including the provision of timely Board reports and quarterly reports of progress against the Corporate Plan.
 
My expectations are that Airservices will:
 
3.    continue to undertake effective consultation with the community, industry and Government on the development and implementation of significant changes by Airservices to air traffic and aviation rescue and fire fighting services;
 
4.    continue to implement Government air traffic management and other airspace policy initiatives (in conjunction with the Department, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and the Department of Defence) including those arising out of the Government’s response to the Aviation Safety Regulation Review Report;
 
5.    engage constructively in processes where it can provide information, assistance or advice for policy formulation, implementation and regulation undertaken by Government agencies, both within and outside my portfolio;
 
6.    assist in implementing the Government’s environmental initiatives including:
 
(a)          supporting the ongoing role of the independent Aircraft Noise Ombudsman (ANO) and implementation of agreed recommendations made by the ANO;
(b)          the appropriate resourcing of the Noise Complaints and Information Service to continue to improve the flow and quality of information to noise affected communities;
(c)           providing and reporting against an annual environmental work plan which outlines Airservices key initiatives in managing and monitoring the environmental effects of aircraft operations;
(d)          the ongoing commitment to the Sydney Airport Long Term Operating Plan; and
(e)          the wider use of Required Navigation Performance (RNP) approaches, as appropriate, at Australian airports following consultation with other Government agency, community and industry stakeholders;
 
7.    contribute to a coordinated approach to airport planning including appropriate participation in, and providing information to, planning coordination forums, community aviation consultation groups, and the National Airports Safeguarding Advisory Group;
 
8.    provide a clearly defined Aviation Rescue and Fire Fighting Service (ARFFS) for civil operations at civil and joint-user airports that meet the establishment criteria in the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998;
 
9.    progress the implementation of agreed joint civil and military aviation harmonisation initiatives with the Department of Defence including Airservices acting as the lead agency on the future joint air traffic control system project;
 
10. continue investment in future infrastructure upgrades and replacement programmes as demonstrated in a detailed capital expenditure programme, including enhanced air traffic and surveillance services at regional airports;
 
11. ensure the efficient, on budget and timely delivery of Airservices’ capital expenditure programme;
 
12. commit to a strong focus on human resource issues, consistent with Government workplace policies, including publication of an annual update of the Airservices Australia Workforce Plan, and the development and implementation of proactive recruitment, training and retention policies;
 
13. continue to support the Government’s safety initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region; and
 
14. adhere to values and a code of conduct that maintains high standards of professionalism, customer service, probity, reporting, accountability and transparency, consistent with excellence in the public sector.
 
 
 
 
 
              
WARREN TRUSS
Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development
15              June 2015