CASA Statement of Intent 2023-2025

On 13 June 2023, the Minster for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government the Hon Catherine King MP, issued a Statement of Expectations to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for the period 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2025. The Statement of Expectations serves as a notice to the Board of the CASA under section 12A of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and formalises the then Deputy Prime Minister’s expectations concerning the operations and performance of CASA.

CASA responded to the accountabilities in the Statement of Expectations on 28 August 2023 with a Statement of Intent 2023-25.

Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) will adhere to the Civil Aviation Act 1988, the Airspace Act 2007, the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act) and any other relevant legislation when performing its functions and exercising its powers. CASA will continue to operate in an efficient, effective, economical and ethical manner that is consistent with applicable Government policies.

CASA’s Board and staff will comply with CASA’s Values and Code of Conduct directive which is consistent with the Australian Public Service Code of Conduct.

Governance

CASA will maintain better practice governance arrangements in the way it manages its operations and day-to-day operational, policy, financial, personnel and administrative activities, as detailed in the Government’s deregulation agenda and Regulator Performance Guide.

The Board and Chief Executive Officer/Director of Aviation Safety (CEO/DAS) will make decisions and act collegiately in accordance with their legislated responsibilities to ensure that CASA performs its functions in a proper, efficient and effective manner, and complies with directions given by the Minister under section 12B of the Act. Accordingly, the CASA Board will set the strategic direction and take responsibility for risk management and corporate planning, and the CEO/DAS will manage CASA’s operations and organisational capacity, along with the performance of its statutory functions.

CASA will promptly alert you and the Secretary of the Department of any event or issue that may materially impact CASA’s operations. CASA will also advise you of any submissions, major media releases or speeches and other information for which the Government is accountable to the Parliament.

The Board will continue to actively promote effective communication and engagement between CASA and its stakeholders. This will include hosting ‘meet the Board’ events to allow industry representatives to speak to the Board and CASA about important issues. A summary of matters discussed at each Board meeting will be published within 20 business days of the date of meeting.

In relation to both perceived and actual conflicts of interest, the Board has in place processes, including:

• a conflict of interest policy published on the CASA website
• declarations of Material Personal Interest, and
• a conflict-of-interest register

to manage both perceived and actual conflicts of interest and will continue to publish its procedures for the management of conflicts of interest on CASA’s website.

CASA will perform its functions consistent with Australia’s international obligations, including Australia’s obligations under the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention).

CASA will work to support Government policy, particularly its deregulation agenda and act consistently with the principles of the Government’s Regulator Performance Guide. To do this, CASA will balance the benefits of reducing regulatory burden on the aviation sector while helping ensure the delivery of aviation safety and public interest outcomes.

In doing so, CASA will consider the economic and cost impact of the standards CASA sets, and the differing risks associated with different sectors of industry.

CASA will provide you with a corporate plan which sets out our performance metrics, and an annual performance statement which reports against these metrics.

An additional focus for the Board will be to ensure the culture of CASA reflects the Government’s expectations to support a safe and sustainable aviation sector.

Strategic direction and manner of performance

CASA will regard the safety of air navigation as the most important consideration, in accordance with its legislative obligations and will perform its functions in accordance with all applicable legislative requirements.

CASA will manage resources in accordance with its financial position and workforce plan, following best practice principles and guidelines and its Board and staff will adhere to the Code of Conduct and CASA Values.

CASA will maintain its role as a world leader in aviation safety and will fulfill its commitments in the Asia-pacific region.

CASA will make publicly available through publication on the CASA website, its regulatory philosophy and implementation approach in accordance with that philosophy.

The table below sets out how CASA will address the expectations in relation to our regulatory approach, the Government’s key initiatives and our approach to stakeholder engagement and we will provide you with quarterly updates on progress focused on matters with clearly articulated deliverables.