A performance audit of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s (CASA) surveillance activities aimed at keeping Australia’s aviation safety has found it to be ‘partly effective’ but that its surveillance approach ‘largely complies with Australia’s international obligations’.
In his report Civil Aviation Safety Authority Planning and Conduct of Surveillance Activities, Auditor-General, Grant Hehir said CASA did not have a ‘documented strategy for surveillance’ and there had been a ‘downward trend in surveillance in recent years’.
“There has been a reduction in the level of detail in surveillance reporting to the Board and Government over time,” Mr Hehir said.
“In addition, CASA has not regularly reviewed and updated its planned surveillance approach,” he said.
“There is no quality assurance process in place for reviewing the quality of surveillance activities, and there has been no plan developed for reviewing the National Oversight Plan.”
Mr Hehir said CASA regularly reported to its Board and the Government on surveillance activities: “however, reporting needs to be complete and comprehensive.”
He said recent reporting did not accurately reflect some of the issues CASA has identified.
The Auditor-General made seven recommendations for CASA to improve its approach to risk, fully document the National Oversight Plan and adopt a process for tracking and reporting on surveillance from referrals to enforcement.
He also recommended the Authority improve the completeness and comprehensive of its reporting to its Board and Minister.
The Authority agreed with them all.
Mr Hehir’s online report can be accessed at this PS News link and his 75-page printed report at this PS News link.
The Audit team was Sandra Dandie, Kai Swoboda and Brian Boyd.
