Air Services Act 1995

Statement of Expectations for Airservices Australia from 1 November 2025 to 30 June 2027

I, Catherine King, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, make the following instrument.

Dated:   13 Oct 2025

Catherine King

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government

I, Catherine King, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, make the following instrument.

1.         Overview

This instrument is the Statement of Expectations for Airservices Australia for the period 1 November 2025 to 30 June 2027.

This Statement of Expectations (SoE) applies from 1 November 2025 until 30 June 2027, and replaces the SoE issued on 30 June 2023.

This SoE serves as a notice to Airservices Australia (Airservices) under section 17 of the Air Services Act 1995 (the Act) and sets out my expectations for Airservices’ appropriate strategic direction and the manner in which Airservices should perform its functions.

1.         Governance

1.       I expect the Board and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Airservices to ensure Airservices has the necessary resources and capabilities in place:

• to effectively manage Airservices’ strategic direction, risks, corporate planning in accordance with section 21 of the Act; and
• to provide Air Traffic Services and Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Services to the service level articulated in this SoE.

1.       I expect the CEO to be responsible for managing the operations of Airservices, its organisational capacity and the exercise of its functions in accordance with section 35 of the Act.
2.       I expect the Board of Airservices to notify me and the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts (the Department) of any significant decisions or issues as soon as practicable.
3.       I expect Airservices to keep me and the Department informed of Airservices’ activities, and provide quarterly progress reports against the Corporate Plan, this SoE and reasonable additional reporting requested by me or the Department, including financial and performance metrics.
4.       I expect Airservices to monitor its progress towards strengthening its organisational capability and culture, engage in continuous improvement, and report on progress on these issues and relevant initiatives in its quarterly progress reports to me.
5.        I expect the Board of Airservices to invite a member of the Department’s Senior Executive or a nominated Department official, to an annual strategic meeting to discuss Airservices’ performance.

1.         Strategic direction and Manner of performance

I expect Airservices to:

1.       operate as a world-best-practice provider of Air Traffic Services and Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Services delivered in a safe, efficient and effective manner;
2.       perform its functions and manage its finances in an efficient, economic and ethical manner, in accordance with the Act, the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013, best practice principles and guidelines, other applicable legislation and relevant accounting standards, and appropriately managing, documenting and disclosing any conflicts of interest held by Directors; 
3.       comply with this SoE and all Ministerial Directions issued under the Act, and for Airservices to demonstrate it is on track to return to financial stability and pay a dividend to Government as agreed by Government;
4.       arrange and pay for independent biennial reviews to assess Airservices’ capital structure; and
5.       function in conformity with Australia’s international obligations, including the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and obligations under the Chicago Convention.

1.         Service Level

I expect Airservices to:

1.       resolve safety findings issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), including self-reported deficiencies, and satisfy all directions and conditions placed on authorisations, in accordance with the Civil Aviation Safety Regulation 1998 and within a time period acceptable to CASA;
2.       provide Air Traffic Services commensurate with the airspace classification as determined by CASA, during the baseline hours of service determined by CASA unless there is an unforeseeable contingency;
3.       ensure it has in place sufficient, capacity and capability to:

• provide Air Traffic Services minimising the use of demand management practices due to staff availability or competency, unless specified by regulations or legislation; and
• support implementation of safe and efficient noise minimisation measures.

1.       provide Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Services to the category listed on the CASA-issued ARFFS Provider Certificate; in accordance with the provisions of Part 139H (Aerodrome rescue and firefighting services) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 and other relevant legislation, unless there is an unforeseeable contingency;
2.       ensure it has in place sufficient, competent staff resources to provide rescue and firefighting services without a reduction of category due to staff availability or competency, unless this reduction is required in the delivery of services specified by applicable legislation; and
3.        implement long-term strategies to maintain continuity of service, ensuring Air Traffic Services and Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Services are delivered in accordance with the expectations outlined at 4 (b), (c), (d) and (e), and communicate these strategies to stakeholders in a frank and timely manner.
4.       Should Airservices be unable to meet the Expectations under sections 4a), 4b), 4c), 4d), 4e) and 4f), Airservices should communicate these clearly and transparently to CASA, including its plans for remediation, and include a report on these issues in its quarterly progress reports to the Minister.

1.         Key Initiatives

I expect Airservices to:

1.       work with the Department of Defence (Defence) to progress the implementation of the OneSKY Australia Program and the Civil Military Air Traffic Management System, including by:

• advising the Department on the progress of the project, including early identification of risks to delivery, reporting on achievement of program milestones and otherwise supporting reporting to Government; and
• providing information as requested by me or the Department.

1.       continue to work closely with the Department and CASA on implementing and supporting the development of the Government’s approach to address Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Services issues, consistent with relevant regulations and policies articulated by the Government;
2.       work with the Department and CASA to:

• develop and implement services to support emerging aviation technologies (including Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems and Advanced Air Mobility) consistent with relevant regulations and policies articulated by the Government;
• provide technical advice on emerging aviation technologies to support policy and regulatory development by the Government;
• promote the integration of the above into Australian airspace; and
• support the development and implementation of policy on a potential Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) mandate, as articulated in the 2024 Aviation White Paper.

1.       operationalise and iteratively develop a Flight Information Management System (FIMS) consistent with the policy objectives articulated by the Government, including those concerning Uncrewed Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM).
2.       work with the Department and CASA on Airspace Management Modernisation, consistent with the Australian Airspace Policy Statement, including by:

• regularly reviewing instrument flight procedures to ensure suitability and relevance;
• enhancing the safety and efficiency of Australian controlled airspace, including at major regional airports;
• applying sufficient resources to support the opening of the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport in 2026 and operations thereafter, including but not limited to: air traffic control; rescue and firefighting services; navigational aids; and airspace planning, design, implementation and post-implementation review; and
• facilitating trials of UTM in volumes of airspace delivering FIMS services in defined airspace volumes.

1.        commence development, including the completion of strategic planning documentation and supporting costings, to implement enhanced drone detection at civil controlled airports, proportionate to the complexity of each airport.
2.       advance the Government’s environmental objectives by:

• minimising the impact of aircraft operations on communities where practicable;
• ensuring timely completion and implementation of safe and efficient noise minimisation measures and noise sharing programs;
• applying sufficient resources to the Airservices Noise Complaints and Information Service, so that noise-affected communities can access needed information;
• applying sufficient resources to the Aircraft Noise Ombuds function and supporting the transition to an independent structure; and
• continuing the commitment to the Sydney Airport Long Term Operating Plan as required by the Ministerial Direction dated 30 July 1997 (Federal Register of Legislation reference: F2009B00158).

1.       work with the Department, other Government agencies and industry to identify, manage and, where appropriate, remediate per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination arising from Airservices’ operations on Airservices-impacted sites, in line with the Government expectations on this issue, including by: 

• advising the Department on risks of liability and damages arising from PFAS contamination at impacted sites, for both the Government and for Airservices, in:
  • Airservices’ quarterly progress reports to the Minister;
  • reports to the Minister on significant matters considered at Airservices’ Board meetings; and
  • as requested by the Department.
• providing the Department with regular updates on:
  • investigations by Airservices of PFAS contamination;
  • Airservices’ current management of PFAS; and
  • future management options and remediation costs, outcomes and methodologies.
• working with the Department collaboratively on PFAS policy and implementation activities.

1.         work with the Department, and other Government agencies as appropriate, in providing assistance and advice in relation to the Government’s Asia Pacific aviation capacity and capability building initiatives.

1.         Stakeholder Engagement

I expect Airservices to:

1.       undertake effective and productive engagement with the community, industry, and international air navigation agencies and forums, based on mutual understanding and respect;
2.       communicate clearly and regularly with the Department, CASA, industry and the community on the development and implementation of significant changes to air navigation and Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Services;
3.       keep stakeholders informed about Air Traffic Services disruptions and actions being taken to address the causes of disruption, including through transparent and regular reporting and frank and timely communication;
4.       proactively provide information, assistance and advice to Government agencies for policy formulation, implementation activities and regulation purposes;
5.       contribute to the coordinated approach to airport planning and management of aircraft noise, including appropriate participation in planning coordination forums, community aviation consultation groups, and the National Airports Safeguarding Advisory Group;
6.        work closely with the Department and other Government agencies, including the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, CASA and Defence to deliver integrated and comprehensive advice to the Government, the aviation industry and the community;
7.       undertake and publish biennial reviews into the implementation of Airservices Community Engagement Standard, supporting implementation of the 2024 Aviation White Paper.

1.         Schedules

Each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms.

Schedule 1—Repeals

Statement of Expectations for Airservices Australia for the Period 15 July 2019 to 30 June 2021 (Federal Register of Legislation No. F2019L00978)

1   The whole of the instrument

Repeal the instrument.

Statement of Expectations for Airservices Australia for the Period 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2023 (Federal Register of Legislation No. F2021L00930)

2   The whole of the instrument

Repeal the instrument.

Statement of Expectations for Airservices Australia from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2025 (Federal Register of Legislation No. F2023L00987)

3   The whole of the instrument

Repeal the instrument.