COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

ELIZABETH THE SECOND, by the Grace of God Queen of Australia and Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth:

TO:

 JAMES HENRY STAUNTON, CBE, QC

GREETING:

WHEREAS, by Letters Patent issued in Our name and entered in the Register of Patents on 25 October 1994, We appointed the Honourable Sir Laurence Street, AC, KCMG, to inquire into certain aspects of the administration of the Civil Aviation Authority (the Authority), in particular in relation to any person (whether incorporated or unincorporated), or body of persons, trading as Seaview Air or any related business (Seaview Air):

AND WHEREAS it is desirable to appoint another Commissioner to inquire separately into those matters:

NOW THEREFORE We do, by these Our Letters Patent issued in Our name by Our Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia on the advice of the Federal Executive Council and in pursuance of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia, the Royal Commissions Act 1902 and other enabling powers, appoint you, with effect from 9 o’clock in the forenoon (according to the time observed in the Australian Capital Territory) on 3 January 1995, to be a Commissioner to inquire into:

(a) the operations of the Authority in connection with:

(i) the appropriateness of decisions and administrative actions of officers of the Authority relating to the operations of Seaview Air during 1994 (and earlier if necessary) including its upgrading to a Regular Public Transport (RPT) operator; and

(ii) the diligence and propriety with which officers of the Authority and Seaview Air discharged their respective responsibilities relating to the safety of Seaview Air operations; and

(iii) the effectiveness of the management systems within the Authority, and communication between its various levels, as they related to Seaview Air; and

(b) the implications of your findings under paragraph (a), and those of the Honourable Sir Laurence Street under the related Commission, necessary to ensure total propriety in air safety administration:

AND We direct you to produce with the Honourable Sir Laurence Street a single report of the results of your inquiries and his inquiries under the related Commission:

AND We further direct you to consult with the Honourable Sir Laurence Street with regard to the methods and procedures to be followed in relation to your inquiries and his inquiries and concerning the content and preparation of that report:

AND We further direct you, in conducting your inquiries and preparing the report, to take account of any views of the Honourable Sir Laurence Street concerning how those inquiries are to be conducted and that report prepared:

AND We authorise you, in conducting your inquiries and preparing the report, to have regard to any information, evidence, document or thing obtained by the Honourable Sir Laurence Street under the related Commission and communicated or furnished to you:

AND We declare that, in these Our Letters Patent, the expression “related Commission” means the Commission of Inquiry issued on 25 October 1994 by Our Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia by Letters Patent to the Honourable Sir Laurence Street and varied by Letters Patent issued this day by Our Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia to the Honourable Sir Laurence Street:

AND We require you, as expeditiously as practicable, to make your inquiries and, not later than 31 May 1995, to furnish to Our Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia the report of the results of the inquiries and such recommendations as you consider appropriate.

WITNESS the Honourable William George Hayden, Companion of the Order of Australia, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia in 29-12-94

Governor-General

By His Excellency’s Command

Minister for Transport

for the Prime Minister