This inquiry lapsed at the end of the 45th Parliament. On 23 July 2019, the Senate agreed to the committee's recommendation that this inquiry be re-adopted in the 46th Parliament. 

• Information about the re-adopted inquiry (46th Parliament)

This is an archived webpage that is no longer updated.

On 5 December 2018, the Senate moved that the following matters be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by 13 August 2019.

Submissions closed on 5 March 2019.

The provision of rescue, firefighting and emergency response at Australian airports, with particular reference to:

(a) the current standards applicable to the provision of aerodrome rescue and firefighting services relating to community safety and the emergency personnel safety;

(b) the standards for the provision of emergency response at Australian airports, including emergency medical response and response to structure fires and other incidents;

(c) the comparison of safe systems of emergency response standards and systems of work for firefighting and rescue operations for structure fires, aircraft rescue, emergency medical response and other emergency incidents;

(d) the consideration of best practice, including relevant international standards;

(e) the mechanisms and criteria for the review of the provisions of safety standards for the provision of rescue and firefighting services, if any;

(f) a review of Airservices Australia policy and administration of aviation rescue and firefighting services;

(g) the effectiveness and independence of the regulator, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), to uphold aviation rescue and firefighting safety standards;

(h) the impact on Australia’s national and international reputation and aviation safety record as a result of any lowering of aviation rescue and firefighting services; and

(i) any other related matters.