Aviation White Paper

The Australian Government recently released Terms of Reference calling for submissions on the Aviation White Paper which will establish a framework of long-term policies that will shape and direct the future development and progress of the aviation industry. The White Paper will outline the Government's desired outcomes for aviation in terms of safety, competitiveness, sustainability, and efficiency, which will aim to ensure that the industry is suitably equipped to provide aviation services to the Australian public up to 2050.

The Terms of Reference explore various matters within the aviation sector, including four specific areas identified by the Government during the White Paper's announcement:

“how to maximise the aviation sector's contribution to achieving net zero carbon emissions, including through sustainable aviation fuel and emerging technologies
the economic reforms needed to improve productivity across the sector, including addressing skills shortages, competition between airports and airlines, and charting a course out of the pandemic
how to support and regenerate Australia's general aviation sector
better mechanisms for consultation on and management of issues like aircraft noise, airport development planning and changing security requirements”

The Government invited submissions on the White Paper’s Terms of Reference. Stop Flight Path Impacts (Gold Coast Lifestyle Association Inc) made a submission identifying clear deficiencies in the current regulatory framework, which doesn’t adequately provide appropriate protection of community interests. These interests for example, include the well overdue articulation of regulations governing the use of airspace (where currently there are none), the requirement for public consultation on proposed changes to flight paths, and the requirements for the adoption of noise abatement procedures or noise amelioration programs as conditions to proposed substantial increases in aircraft movement.

We expect to see the issues raised in our submission addressed in the Green Paper* which is due in mid-2023 . The Green Paper will serve as the basis for more detailed consultation in which we intend to be involved, due to our membership of Gold Coast Airport’s Airport Noise Abatement Consultative Committee and Community Aviation Consultative Group. The outcomes of the consultation with stakeholders will be considered during the development of the White Paper**.

* Green papers include proposals or solutions to feedback received in response to a proposed white paper. Green papers are often released to generate discussion and feedback.

** A white paper is a published statement of government policy or strategy which often includes details of, and the reasons for, planned legislative changes.