Estimates of government expenditure are referred to Senate committees as part of the annual budget cycle. This opportunity to examine the operations of government plays a key role in the parliamentary scrutiny of the executive. One of the most significant features of the procedure for examining estimates is the opportunity that senators have to question officers of the public service directly. BFPCA has engaged the Australian Parliament’s Senate Estimates process to hold the government to account for Brisbane Airport’s excessive noise pollution experienced by Brisbane residents.
BFPCA is grateful to the Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport for asking the following questions. BFPCA also thank the offices of various Senators named below for their support in tabling these questions.
On this page we publish video recordings and document answers provided to Questions on Notice (QoN). These written answers can also be retrieved from the Senate’s website.
On this page:
- Budget Estimates 2023 / 2024 (22 – 23 May 2023)
- Budget Supplementary Estimates 2022 / 2023 (13 Feb 2023)
Budget Estimates 2023 / 2024
📺 Video recordings: Department of Infrastructure and Transport (Aviation Branch); hearing date: 22 May 2023
📺 Video recordings: Airservices; hearing date: 23 May 2023
Budget Supplementary Estimates 2022 / 2023
📺 Video recordings: Department of Infrastructure and Transport (Aviation Branch); hearing date: 13 Feb 2023
Department Video Part 1 of 3: Aviation White Paper
Department Video Part 2 of 3: Establishment of the Brisbane Airport Community Forum
Department Video Part 3 of 3: Dorothy Dixer Questions by VIC Labor Sen. Linda White
📺 Video recordings: Airservices; hearing date: 13 Feb 2023
Airservices Video Part 1 of 2: Airservices // Sen. Larissa Waters
Airservices Video Part 2 of 2: Airservices // Sen. Bridget McKenzie
Answers to Questions on Notice: Department’s Aviation Branch
30. Aviation white paper – Terms of Reference
Senator Bridget McKenzie asked:
Senator McKENZIE: … Mr Wood. I want to ask about the aviation white paper and to ask about the process. Seven million was budgeted to fund the delivery. Can you give us a breakdown of how that $7 million is being spent, Ms Werner?
Ms Purvis-Smith: In relation to the detailed breakdown, we can take that on notice. It is over two years, because the white paper process will be a 12- to 18-month process. But we can give you the details of that on notice, Senator.
Answer: Of the total $7 million funding for the delivery of the Aviation White Paper, $3.1 million is allocated for the 2022-23 Financial Year and $3.9 million is allocated for the 2023-24 Financial Year.
Funding is being used for a range of purposes including the establishment of a branch of up to 20 staff over the two years identified; engagement of consultants to provide specialist advice and services; consultation at different stages of the Green and White Papers’ delivery, including travel expenses and venue hire; design, typesetting and then production of the Green and White Papers; and procurement of any legal or expert advice required.
31. Aviation white paper terms of reference
Senator Bridget McKenzie asked:
Senator McKENZIE: The terms of reference, then, were developed in the department. The terms of reference for the consultation, rather than having a discussion paper, were developed in the department and sent up to the minister’s office?
Ms Purvis-Smith: It was in the department. We consulted with some other government agencies, including CASA. My colleague Ms Werner will be able to take you through that in more detail.
Ms Werner: The initial draft terms of reference was developed by the department based on the government’s election commitment. The terms of reference was then shared across the Public Service with PM&C, Treasury, Finance, department of climate change, DFAT, Austrade, Home Affairs, department of industry and Defence, and with the portfolio agencies, Airservices, CASA and ATSB, for comment. The draft terms of reference were then provided to the minister, who then sought agreement to them from the Prime Minister.
Senator McKENZIE: Did CASA or Airservices Australia add anything to the terms of reference? Ms Werner: Unfortunately, Senator, I don’t have that level of detail with me. Ms Purvis-Smith: We can take it on notice.
Answer: The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts sought comments on the draft Terms of Reference from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and Airservices Australia (Airservices) on 24 October 2022.
CASA provided written feedback confirming that the draft Terms of Reference were sufficiently broad enough to cover CASA’s aviation safety interests and also suggested the inclusion of opportunities for manufacturing, particularly in regard to new technologies. This suggestion was captured in the Terms of Reference released on 7 February 2023.
32. Working with affected community members regarding noise pollution from the Brisbane Airport
Senator Bridget McKenzie asked:
Senator McKENZIE: Would you consider working with affected community members as part of that consultative group, either in its permanent or in its current form, to actually look at that work? This is a significant concern that’s been raised with me.
Ms Purvis-Smith: I think we’d take that on notice. I think it would depend on what the community forum will look like, what the terms of reference will be and what the options are going forward. But we will work within that governance arrangement going forward.
Answer: The Australian Government announced the establishment of the Brisbane Airport Community Airspace Advisory Board (AAB) on 09 March 2023. The AAB is an ongoing, independent community consultation body on the management of airspace and flight paths around Brisbane Airport under the Noise Action Plan. The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts has a representative on AAB.
Under its Terms of Reference, issues outside of the scope of the Noise Action Plan, including property value movements, are excluded from the responsibilities of the AAB.
33. Minister Catherine King won’t meet with communities
Senator Bridget McKenzie asked:
Senator McKENZIE: Assistant Minister, you’re a resident of Brisbane. This issue would be no surprise to you, I’m sure. It’s been a key issue for a long time. Community members are very exercised about the fact that the minister had her chief of staff write back to them and that she could not actually meet with them in person. Were you aware of this?
Senator Chisholm: I wasn’t aware of that and I’m happy to take on notice and try to provide some more information about it, Senator McKenzie. At the risk of trying to be helpful, the terms of reference are currently being finalised and I expect the minister will have more to say shortly about the establishment.
Answer: On 9 March 2023, the Australian Government announced the establishment of the Brisbane Airport Community Airspace Advisory Board (AAB), as an independent forum for community input on airspace and flight path changes.
The AAB is independently chaired by Mr. Ron Brent, the inaugural Australian Aircraft Noise Ombudsman. Five community member positions will be filled with local Brisbane residents following an open Expression of Interest process that ran from 9 to 26 March 2023.
The first meeting of the AAB is expected to be held in May 2023.
The Minister receives a high volume of meeting requests and decisions on whether to accept is a matter for the Minister.
95. Government’s 50 year lease agreement with the Brisbane Airport Corporation group
Senator Larissa Waters asked:
Senator WATERS: Minister, I am after a copy of the federal government’s 50-year lease agreement with the Brisbane Airport Corporation group and was hoping to get that copy of that.
Senator Carol Brown: I’ll have to take that on notice. I certainly don’t have it to hand.
Answer: Access to land title documentation registered in Queensland is governed by state law and administered by Titles Queensland, which manages the land and water titles registries.
Subject to acceptance of Titles Queensland’s terms and conditions, copies of the Brisbane Airport lease can be purchased from the Titles Queensland website at: https://search.titlesqld.com.au/product-search. The dealing number for the Brisbane Airport lease is 702599136.
241. Brisbane Aircraft Noise
Senator Bridget McKenzie asked:
- Can the Department report on what progress has been made to establish a permanent consultative body on aircraft noise around Brisbane airport?
- How will members of the community be able to nominate to be part of such a consultative body?
- How would the Alliance best engage with the Department about such issues given the Minister’s office has said the Minister will not meet them?
Answer: The Brisbane Airport Community Airspace Advisory Board (AAB) was announced on 9 March 2023.
Community representatives to join the AAB are being selected through an open Expression of Interest process. Interested Brisbane community members were able to nominate to be considered for the AAB from 9 March to 26 March 2023. The final selection of community representatives was a decision of the Independent Chair, Mr Ron Brent.
The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, acting as the secretariat for the AAB, contacted the Brisbane Community Flight Path Alliance directly following the announcement of the AAB on 9 March 2023 to advise of the establishment of the group and the expression of interest process.
Further information on the AAB and how to contact the department is available at: infrastructure.gov.au/AAB
Answers to Questions on Notice: Airservices Australia
93. Brisbane flight paths
Senator Larissa Waters asked:
Senator WATERS: Thanks for joining us so late in the evening. I’ve got some questions about the Brisbane flight paths. First of all, I’ve been told by some Brisbane community members that the Queensland police have recently checked in on them after they submitted complaints to Airservices about flight noise. I understand there’s been over 14,000 complaints to Airservices since July 2020, so my question is: what has elevated some of those complaints to complaints that Airservices have referred to the police? Anything you can tell me about that, please?
Mr Harfield: That is news to me, so I’ll take that on notice.
Senator WATERS: Thank you. I’d appreciate any advice you can provide. Do you know how many of those 14,000 complaints were referred to the police?
Mr Harfield: No. I have no idea. I’ll take that on notice.
Answer: Complainants identified as at potential risk of self-harm or threats made against the security of aircraft operations or Airservices personnel are referred to Airservices’ Security team for assessment. If Security determines the complainant is at risk or there is a credible risk of action, they will refer the complainant to the relevant police service.
Since the opening of Brisbane’s new runway, eight complainants have been referred to Airservices Security with three referred to police for a welfare visit.
94. Revenue from aircraft operating in Brisbane
Senator Larissa Waters asked:
Senator WATERS: Can I ask now about income from levies. I understand that you levy charges to aircraft operating in our airspace. How much income do you generate from aircraft operating in and out of Brisbane Airport?
Mr Logan: I don’t have the specific numbers for Brisbane. In total, Airservices collects about a billion dollars a year across 29 locations, but certainly we can get that information for you.
Senator WATERS: If you could take that on notice for me. Can you tell me again: a billion dollars a year across 19 sites, did you say?
Mr Logan: Twenty-nine.
Senator WATERS: Has the introduction of the trial extension of SODPROPS hours, which you’ve just taken me through, since February resulted in any reduced levy income to Airservices?
Mr Logan: Not that I am aware of that’s related to that.
Senator WATERS: Is that something that you might expect, or you wouldn’t expect that?
Mr Logan: No, we wouldn’t expect that to impact.
Senator WATERS: If you could either provide me right now or perhaps on notice the monthly income generated from aircraft operations at Brisbane Airport since January 2021, that would be very helpful.
Answer:
Airservices recovered the following in Terminal Navigation, Aviation Rescue and Fire Fighting charges and Enroute charges for flights arriving or departing Brisbane Airport:
- In financial year 2018-19 Airservices recovered $201 million
- In financial year 2019-20 Airservices recovered $154 million
- In financial year 2020-21 Airservices recovered $87 million
- In financial year 2021-22 Airservices recovered $111 million
Attachment A: Airservices Monthly Airways Revenues, Brisbane Aircraft Operations (Financial Years 2020-21 to 2021-22)
98. Consultation with Redlands residents
Senator Bridget McKenzie asked:
Senator McKENZIE: Was there any consultation with bayside residents of Redlands prior to the SODPROPS trial being implemented?
Mr Curran: I think the answer to that may be no. I would need to take that on notice to confirm, but I believe the answer is no.
Senator McKENZIE: I’d like to know why.
Mr Curran: As I said, I believe the answer is no, but I would need to take that on notice. I understand that part of the engagement with the community was initially focused around the areas that were immediately impacted with the implementation of the new flight paths in Brisbane. As the post-implementation proposal evolved and additional work on SODPROPS over-the-bay operations became an option, the implications for broader Brisbane residents, as in Redland residents, which are further afield, became apparent, and we subsequently undertook engagement.
Answer: The trial to extend SODPROPS operations was implemented following a recommendation from the Brisbane Airport Post Implementation Review Advisory Forum (BAPAF) appointed by the previous government. Engagement was not conducted ahead of implementation of this trial as it was an existing procedure. The trial implementation was promoted through the engagement platform, citywide media coverage and BAPAF quarterly reporting.
Formal engagement on the trial commenced upon implementation, with feedback sought from community members on any improvement or impact noticed. Further feedback will be sought during evaluation of the trials. This feedback will be considered in determining if the trial should become a permanent operation, if it should cease or if it should be modified for continued assessment.
99. Management of responses
Senator Bridget McKenzie asked:
Senator McKENZIE: What precisely does Airservices mean by ‘the management of community and political responses’? Please provide some candid and frank examples to illustrate this. I’m assuming they’re quoting directly from Airservices Australia communication or the report.
Mr Curran: I’m not familiar with the quote. I would have to take that on notice.
Answer: The management of community and political responses was in relation to stakeholder feedback for the Brisbane New Parallel Runway Flight Paths Post Implementation Review (PIR). The PIR provided an opportunity for the community, industry and elected representatives on behalf of their constituents to provide feedback on the effects of the implementation of the flight paths at Brisbane Airport.
Community responses have also assisted in enhancing engagement materials and methods for future post implementation reviews. The Community Suggested Operating Principles for engagement have contributed to the development of principles which will guide future airspace change opportunities.
100. Aircraft noise complaints
Senator Bridget McKenzie asked:
Senator McKENZIE: On notice, I would like to understand: of the numbers we have in front of us, how many are your repeat complainants versus individual complaints? That would tend to suggest to me that there are a lot more complaints than what’s actually being reported, if we were going to take the time it took somebody to pick up the phone or write the email. Just because it’s from the same person about noise shouldn’t disqualify it from being counted as a complaint.
Mr Curran: We can certainly take that on notice. To clarify, if I may: the only time we wouldn’t count the complaint as an additional complaint is if it was about the very same flight. To call and complain about the same flight again, perhaps, immediately thereafter.
CHAIR: The next day.
Mr Curran: then that is not—
Senator McKENZIE: Or six months later. I appreciate that, if you could take that on notice.
Answer: Airservices’ Noise Complaints and Information Service (NCIS) received 15,406 complaints from 3,149 individual complainants relating to Brisbane operations for the period 12 July 2020 to 31 January 2023. A third of all complaints were made by 10 complainants with a total of 5,472 complaints, including one complainant who made 1,168 over the period.
All complaints are recorded against each complainant regardless of how many times they make a complaint.
119. Workshop dates
Senator Bridget McKenzie asked:
Senator McKENZIE: Why did Airservices provide a workshop on the implementation review only after Henry Pike, the member for Bowman, which covers Redland City, requested it, despite the fact that the proposed changes to flight paths over the Redlands were a significant aspect of the review?
Mr Curran: I’d have to take the specifics of that question on notice. I am aware of a number of meetings with residents in the Redland Shire as well as with the member for Bowman. The exact timing of that I would have to take on notice.
Senator McKENZIE: When was the workshop?
Mr Curran: We had a number of workshops. We did—
Senator McKENZIE: Just let me know the dates.
Answer: When Airservices was advised of concerns of impacts on the Redlands community from the Member for Bowman in August 2022, Airservices arranged to brief the Member for Bowman on 12 September 2022 jointly with Trax International (Trax), who were conducting an independent review of Brisbane flight paths.
At the request of the Member for Bowman, a workshop was arranged for 14 September 2022 to discuss the Trax Brisbane Airport New Parallel Runway Flight Paths Independent Review Final Report with the Redlands community.
A drop-in session was also held on 11 November 2022 to discuss the draft Airservices Post Implementation Review report with the Redlands community.
123. Retirement Incentive Scheme – follow-up
Senator Larissa Waters asked:
In QON response #238, Airservices advised that the recent Retirement Incentive Scheme cost $58 million.
- How many people accepted retirement as part of the scheme?
- How many of those positions have been re-filled?
Answer: At the height of COVID-19 when air traffic had reduced by up to 90 per cent, Airservices took the opportunity to bring forward the retirement of those Air Traffic Controllers and Aviation Rescue Fire Fighters who were aged 56 and over at 1 July 2021, and were expected to leave the workforce in the next three years. The aim of the Retirement Incentive Scheme (RIS) was to take advantage of the low traffic numbers and allow Airservices to keep its recruitment pipeline open in preparation for when traffic was expected to return to pre-pandemic levels.
- 243 people accepted RIS offers over the life of the scheme (1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022).
- 132 positions have been recruited through the Air Traffic Controller and Aviation Rescue Fire Fighter training pipelines.
125. Key Messages Document – follow-up
Senator Larissa Waters asked:
The Airservices QON response #236 advised that the “Key Messages” document referred to was privately released for the aviation industry, rather than a public document.
Please provide details of all resources and documents that Airservices has produced exclusively for aviation industry stakeholders relating to Brisbane airspace in the past 3 years.
Are any staff positions dedicated to the production of industry-only resources?
Answer: Airservices is required to produce a range of operational resources, information and products for the aviation industry under Civil Aviation Safety Regulation Part 175 and the Air Services Act 1995, including for Brisbane airspace.
Other than these operational products, Airservices has identified the following resources fitting the definition above and exclusively for aviation industry stakeholders relating to Brisbane Airport Flight Path Changes produced over the past three years:
- Safety case supporting the Brisbane Airport Corporation proposal to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to increase the runway tailwind to 7 knots.
- Independent Parallel Runway Operations Instrument Landing System Presentation.
Airservices has no dedicated position for the production of industry-only resources other than the operational products required under legislation.
126. Recommendations released by Post Implementation Review (PIR) – follow-up
Senator Larissa Waters asked:
Further to the QON response #247, please detail the anticipated positive benefits of the noise attenuation measures proposed or adopted in the final PIR report, including:
- net noise level reduction (in dB and as a percentage reduction) for each proposed measure
- net flight number reduction (in actual numbers and as a percentage) for each proposed measure.
Answer: As noted in Committee Question Number 247 (SQ22-002705) from the 2022-23 Budget Estimates hearing, Airservices will progress options to be consulted with the community and other stakeholders as identified in the Brisbane New Parallel Runway Flight Paths Post Implementation Review (PIR). As part of implementing the recommendations of the PIR, Airservices will model different options to compare against a baseline model of current operations. This will include the number of flights and projected noise levels. Community engagement will be conducted on all options developed.