Air Traffic Control

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton) (14:50): My question is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Can the minister update the house on the decision by Air Services Australia to close the Adelaide Terminal Control Unit?

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister Assisting the Minister for Planning, Minister Assisting the Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (14:51): I thank the member for his question concerning something in close proximity to his electorate, the Adelaide Airport, amongst others. It is very disappointing and concerning that a decision has been taken by Air Services Australia to close the Adelaide Terminal Control Unit and instead provide the service from Tullamarine in Victoria. Given the nature of the closure and the effect it will have on jobs, the aviation industry and, quite possibly, safety, it is very disappointing that Air Services Australia has taken this decision.

As members may be aware, Air Services Australia is a commonwealth agency responsible for air traffic operations nationally. It operates the Adelaide Terminal Control Unit which is responsible for managing aircraft movements into, out of and around Adelaide's airspace. This unit has 20 highly skilled and professional controllers who manage this complex aviation environment.

We have three airports in close proximity to one another: the Adelaide Airport, the Parafield Airport, as well as the military air base at Edinburgh. The Adelaide Terminal Control Unit manages the airspace for all three airports. It should be noted that the city's topography also makes this airspace challenging, with the Adelaide Hills encompassing the areas surrounding these three airports.

These factors emphasise the importance of having air traffic controllers with local knowledge and experience. The Adelaide Terminal Control Unit is responsible for aircraft as they approach and depart this airspace approximately 50 to 70 kilometres from the runways of these three airports. It is only once the aircraft are about to touch down onto a runway, or until just after the aircraft take off, that the aircraft are managed by air traffic controllers in the towers at the three airports.

To be clear, it is the terminal controllers who actively manage the airspace over greater Adelaide who are to be moved to Tullamarine in Victoria. The aircraft movements from these three airports of course include commercial aviation, military aviation and general aviation. This includes the general aviation and pilot training at Parafield Airport, including the Cathay Pacific flying school and other training schools. As members would be aware, the aviation training industry has grown significantly in recent years.

There are also, of course, commercial flights with which we are all familiar out of Adelaide Airport, as well as Defence Force and military related flights operating out of Edinburgh airport. Of course, from time to time there are other users of the airspace in and around Adelaide: SAPOL and the MAC helicopters, shark patrol flights and of course, recently in January, firefighting aircraft.

This is a very complex aviation environment and controllers tell me that their local knowledge enables them to be flexible and manage the interactions between these planes, and they also warn that losing their local knowledge and the ability to be able to factor in perhaps lower priority flights, particularly general aviation, places the future of the growth of that sector at risk.

I am advised that the process used by Air Services Australia in making this decision lacks due diligence as well. I am advised that, most concerningly, they have yet to commence a detailed safety case on moving these terminal controllers from Adelaide to interstate. Right now, I am advised that while this decision has been made, it has been attempted twice previously—certainly, under the Howard government and also under the former Rudd Labor government—both times summarily rejected by the ministers responsible in both of those governments.

This is a disappointing and concerning decision for all South Australians. I think all members would agree that the safety of the airspace above Adelaide is of primary concern, and I will continue to lobby the federal government to reverse this decision.