The Aviation White Paper (the White Paper) will set the long-term policies to guide the next generation of growth and innovation in the aviation sector.
It will clearly articulate the Commonwealth Government’s policies on desired aviation outcomes in relation to safety, competitiveness, sustainability and efficiency to ensure the sector is appropriately positioned to deliver aviation services for the Australian public out to 2050.
The White Paper will examine issues across the aviation sector. This includes four specific areas identified by the Government when announcing the White Paper:
- how to maximise the aviation sector's contribution to achieving net zero carbon emissions, including through sustainable aviation fuel and emerging technologies
- the economic reforms needed to improve productivity across the sector, including addressing skills shortages, competition between airports and airlines, and charting a course out of the pandemic
- how to support and regenerate Australia's general aviation sector
- better mechanisms for consultation on and management of issues like aircraft noise, airport development planning and changing security requirements.
In the 2022-23 Budget, the Government committed $7 million of funding to deliver the White Paper.
Flight path to the Aviation White Paper
The Aviation White Paper is expected to be released in the first half of 2024, with its flight path passing through the following stages:
- On 7 February 2023, the Government released the White Paper Terms of Reference
- Submissions on the Terms of Reference closed on 10 March 2023
- Public consultation occurred during March 2023 through industry roundtables
- The Aviation Green Paper is expected to be released in mid-2023
- A second round of public consultation will occur following the release of the Green Paper, which will include:
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- Call for detailed submissions in response to the Green Paper
- Consultations with stakeholders
- The Aviation White Paper to be released in the first half of 2024