Chapter 3 - Annual reports of statutory authorities
3.1
A list of statutory
authorities' annual reports referred to the committee is contained in Appendix
1.
3.2
The committee
notes that several annual reports that would normally be examined in this
report were received and tabled after 31 October 2005. These will be examined
in the committee's Report on Annual Reports No. 2 of 2006. Of the reports
received, the committee undertook closer inspection of the following two:
-
Airservices
Australia
-
Australian
Maritime Safety Authority.
Airservices Australia
3.3
Airservices
Australia is a government-owned body corporate. It is the organisation with
responsibility for providing air traffic management and related services,
including fire and rescue services, to the aviation industry in the Australian
Flight Information Region (FIR). It was established on 6 July 1995 under the
Air Services Act and prepares its report in accordance with the requirements of
this Act and the CAC Act. It is funded
through charges levied on users of its services. Total revenue in 2004-05 was $690.7 million,
and the organisation paid an interim dividend of $13.4 million in June 2005.
3.4
The reporting
period was one of substantial change at the senior levels of the organisation. A
new Chairman, Nick Burton Taylor AM, was appointed, as were five new board
members following the expiry of terms or resignations of former members. A new
chief executive officer was also appointed.
3.5
The organisation
was voted the world's best air traffic control provider for 2005 by the
International Air Transport Association, the second time it has received such
an award.
3.6
Major priorities
for the year included further changes to the National Airspace System,
finalising long-term pricing arrangements for air traffic control and aviation
fire-fighting and rescue services, and the rollout of a new upper airspace
aircraft tracking system known as Automatic Dependant Surveillance – Broadcast
(ADS-B). ADS-B will allow quality surveillance of suitably equipped aircraft
travelling at above 30 000 feet over the entire continent.
3.7
Compared to other
Australian Government agencies, it is an organisation in which senior
executives appear to be particularly well remunerated, one officer receiving a
package of in excess of $1 million per year.
3.8
The committee was
particularly impressed with the organisation's approach to reviewing
performance against objectives, which contained a good mix of discussion and
useful graphics. In relation to safety, a key area against which the
organisation's performance is assessed, most targets were met or exceeded, with
the exception of tower air traffic service incidents, which fell below the
target and also showed an increase over previous years.
3.9
Airservices
Australia's annual report has been prepared to a high standard and meets all
reporting requirements. It is prepared in plain English, is well presented and
informative. The committee commends the organisation on the quality of the
report.
Australian Maritime Safety Authority
3.10
The Australian
Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is the national safety agency with a primary
role in maritime safety, protection of the marine environment and maritime and
aviation search and rescue. Established under the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Act 1990 as an Australian
Government authority, AMSA is largely self-funded through levies on the
commercial shipping industry.
3.11
Highlights of the
2004-05 year included AMSA's participation in the International Maritime
Organization's (IMO) development and implementation of ship safety and environment
protection measures relevant to Australia. A three-year intensive campaign by
Australia and Papua New Guinea came to fruition with the IMO approving in July
2005 the extension of the Particular Sensitive Sea Area applicable in the Great
Barrier Reef to the Torres Strait. This included the associated protective
measures in relation to pilotage and implementation of a two-way shipping
route, which is intended to lead to unprecedented improvement in ship
navigational safety in the environmentally sensitive region.
3.12
During the period
AMSA completed the relevant recommendations from the 2001 Review of Great Barrier Reef Ship Safety and Pollution Prevention
Measures. It also continued to pursue initiatives to improve the quality of
foreign flag ships operating in Australian waters.
3.13
In relation to
search and rescue operations, AMSA received $54.7 million additional funding
over four years from the federal budget for contracting four turbine engine
aircraft. Three aircraft are to be positioned at strategic locations around
Australia and the fourth is to be held in reserve, with any spare capacity
being available for use by other government agencies.
3.14
AMSA commenced a
dedicated search and rescue service in Darwin for the benefit of northern
Australia and upgraded its Rescue Coordination Centre to an Emergency Response
Centre by adopting advanced communication and coordination systems. The aim is
to strengthen AMSA's interaction with aircraft and other search and rescue
agencies and provide a multi-disciplinary response to shipping incidents
covering search and rescue, pollution response and monitoring of industry
operational standards.
3.15
During the
period, AMSA also promoted ship and boating safety awareness, in particular the
adoption and effective use of 406MHz distress beacons.
3.16
AMSA jointly held
the biennial International Oil Spill Conference, Spillcon 2004, in August
2004. It also planned to hold AMSA shipping workshops in Perth, Sydney and
Darwin in July, September and October 2005, respectively.
3.17
The committee
considers that AMSA's report is apparently satisfactory in meeting the
reporting requirements under the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act.
The report is well set-out and easy to use. Graphs and tables are utilised
where appropriate. The authority is to be commended on its use of plain English
which makes the report readily understandable and easy to read. The report also
contains a detailed compliance index that greatly assists the reader.
Senator the Hon. Bill Heffernan
Chair
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