Our transport safety bodies are world-renowned and the Australian Government is committed to ensuring they stay operationally fit-for-purpose and are sustainably funded to carry out their responsibilities.
The Australian Transport Safety and Investigation Bodies Financial Sustainability Review (the Review) has reviewed the operations, considered potential efficiencies and options for cost recovery of the following bodies:
- Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)
- Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB)
- Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA).
The Review was undertaken over six months.
The Reviewer provided a report to The Hon Catherine King MP, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government following the conclusion of the Review for consideration on 27 February 2024.
The Government is currently considering the outcomes of the Review.
About the Review
The objectives of the Review were to identify, report and make recommendations on:
- The extent to which agencies' operations and associated funding arrangements/mechanisms are fit for discharging their legislative and regulatory responsibilities, and whether any changes should be considered by Government.
- Government and non-government funding sources of safety and investigation bodies, together with current and future funding requirements (based on the efficient cost of delivery), including regarding any expected changes to each agency's operating environment.
- Assessment of options for government and non-government funding sources, including through cost recovery, and their likely sectoral impacts.
- Opportunities for operational efficiencies, and how they could be implemented, including whether opportunities exist to implement risk-based frameworks or scale operations to adapt to changing circumstances.
- Any legislative or regulatory amendments required as a consequence of other recommendations made.
- The Reviewer consulted relevant government and industry stakeholders.
Terms of Reference
- Read the Terms of Reference.
Who will conduct the Review?
The Review was undertaken by an eminent person with extensive expertise in public sector financial, operations and governance appointed by The Hon Catherine King MP, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government.
The Reviewer was responsible for the delivery of the final report to Government by early 2024, including recommendations addressing the scope outlined above.
The Reviewer was supported by a secretariat team within the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communication and the Arts.
Reviewer
Professor John Skerritt AM
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Professor John Skerritt is a respected regulatory leader with extensive experience in strategic policy, operational and financing models for regulatory systems. He has led a number of regulatory functions across health, agriculture, veterinary and fisheries, and land and natural resource protection and emergency management areas. This includes supporting and implementing the results of major government reviews, modernising regulatory policies and operations including business and digital transformation, developing strengthened compliance and enforcement schemes as well as playing a lead role in the national and international harmonisation of regulation and regulatory practice.
He has extensive senior government experience, including 24 years in three Deputy Secretary/Deputy CEO roles—within the Australian Department of Health (including 10 years as Head of the Therapeutic Goods Administration), the Foreign Affairs and Trade Portfolio and within the Victorian Government. Professor Skerritt also has significant experience on boards of international and national organisations, including as board chair and as chair of board audit committees.
Professor Skerritt is a Professor and Adjunct Professor respectively at the universities of Melbourne and Sydney and has a PhD and a University Medal from the University of Sydney, and international qualifications in management from London Business School and IMD Switzerland.
Professor Skerritt was recognised on the King's Birthday 2024 Honours List, and appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his significant service to public health administration and governance, and to scientific research.