Senator Nick Xenophon has again successfully led a disallowance motion against recent changes to Australian Aviation Transport Regulations, making it the second time that the government has been defeated on the measures.
The changes, which became effective on May 22, limited cockpit access to those “ with an operational, safety, security or training reason”, and would transfer legal responsibility to the pilot, rather than the operator.
Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) president Captain Barry Jackson welcomed the announcement that the disallowance motion had passed. “AIPA is grateful that the cross benches and opposition, in particular Senator Xenophon, have had the consistency to reject these regulations for a second time and we hope today’s decision by the Senate will illustrate clearly to this government that it needs to improve its stakeholder consultation.”
AIPA has been campaigning against the changes, noting that it would effectively prevent off-duty pilots from ‘jump-seating’ on flights, which could overall reduce safety in the cockpit. It has also opposed the move to transfer legal responsibility to the pilot, noting that it was internationally unprecedented.
