The Department of Defence, Virgin Australia and Qantas have formed a new partnership to co-ordinate strategic aviation issues of national interest.
During the first meeting of the new forum, Defence shared issues of common interest with the commercial partners, focusing on future national aviation developments, emerging technologies, crisis planning and security.
Vice Chief of the Defence Force Air Marshal Mark Binskin said: “This strategic arrangement sets up an important forum for high-level discussion on many areas in which Defence and the airlines can work together in the national interest. Contingency planning and coordination will be an important element of this forum. For example, a major natural disaster in Australia may require a national response involving both the Australian Defence Force and civil aviation,” Binskin added.
The arrangement was signed by Air Marshal Mark Binskin, Qantas Group’s executive manager government and international relations Tony Wheelens and Virgin Australia chief operating officer Sean Donohue, Defence announced on December 21.
The forum does not replace separate commercial agreements between the parties.
