Fed: Labor calls on Anderson to detail involvement in Whyalla

AAP General News (Australia)
12-19-2001
Fed: Labor calls on Anderson to detail involvement in Whyalla

CANBERRA, Dec 19 AAP - Labor today called on Transport Minister John Anderson to detail
his involvement in the regulation of Whyalla Airlines.

Opposition transport spokesman Martin Ferguson said the release today of the Australian
Transport Safety Bureau's (ATSB) report into the Whyalla Airlines crash, in which eight
people died, highlighted Mr Anderson's incompetent management of aviation safety.

He said Mr Anderson must now reveal to the families of the dead, the detail and extent
of political involvement in the regulation of the South Australian-based airline.

"The ATSB report has revealed intervention by a federal member of parliament into the
regulation of Whyalla Airlines in December 1997," Mr Ferguson said.

"The minister must release all correspondence between himself and the members of parliament
in relation to the regulation of the airline, including his written or other response
to those representations.

"This must include the minutes of any meetings he attended on these issues."

The ATSB found no-one was to blame for the accident on May 31 last year, saying it
was caused by dual engine failure as a result of a fatigue crack in the plane's crankshaft.

It recommended changed procedures for lean fuel operation and for the use of anti-galling
additives, as well as life jackets being placed on small aircraft.

Mr Ferguson said the opposition would use parliamentary processes to ensure Mr Anderson
acted expeditiously to ensure the ATSB recommendations were acted upon and ensure all
information about political involvement was on the public record.

"Mr Anderson has bumbled from crisis to crisis in the aviation safety portfolio, ignoring
industry calls for leadership and an independent reform process," he said.

AAP sm/daw/ph/sb

KEYWORD: WHYALLA FERGUSON

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