The Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Warren Truss, addressed the Safeskies Conference on 16 October outlining the importance of aviation in Australia and reviewing some of the new governments intentions for the Aviation industry.
Mr Truss acknowledged the strong and sustained growth over the last past decade. Over 142 million passengers moved through Australian airports in the 12 months to 30 June 2013. The Minister highlighted that the Asia-Pacific passenger kilometres represent 30 per cent of global traffic. Mr Truss remarked that air traffic growth is creating delays at major capital city airports especially at Perth and Brisbane and this is challenge which will be needed to overcomed.
Mr Truss has reaffirmed the implementation of the single air traffic control system. This will mean Airservices Australia, the civil Air Traffic Control provider, and Department of Defence will utilise the same Air traffic Control system rather than separate systems as is the present case. The project known as OneSky is expected to cope with an increase of 50 per cent of traffic from present levels over the anticipated life of the system.
The minister has committed the government to encourage investment in training and technology. The Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development is undertaking a study into the state of the workforce in the aviation industry. The review will cover a range of occupations in the aviation industry.
http://www.minister.infrastructure.gov.au/wt/speeches/2013/wts003_2013.aspx for full text of the speech.