Media statements

Speech given to International Transport Safety Association by Kym Bills Executive Director, Australian Transport Safety Bureau

15 May 2007

Rail 2007, Sydney NSW, 3 April 2007

Presentation given by Mr Kym Bills,

Executive Director

Australian Transport Safety Bureau

Department of Transport and Regional Services

Speech presented 7 Aug 2006

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Spoken by Mr Kym Bills, Executive Director, Australian Transport Safety Bureau 23 July 2007

Overview

• Australia has a very safe transport system in international terms across all modes
• However, major accidents are low probability, high consequence events and we can never afford to be complacent

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau's supplementary investigation report into the fatal accident involving Whyalla Airlines Piper Chieftain registration VH-MZK on 31 May 2000 is expected to be tabled in the Senate before Question Time today.

The ATSB has found that there was no effective lookout being maintained on board either a fishing vessel or a bulk carrier when the two vessels collided off the South Australian coast on 23 April 2007, the latest in more than 50 such collisions investigated.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau will be conducting a media interview on the fatal aircraft accident at Bankstown Airport involving a Piper Seneca, VH-CTT.

A media conference discussing the circumstances of the Bell 206B Jetranger Helicopter that crashed while undertaking water bombing operations during the Canberra Bush Fires of January 2003 will be held at 11.00 am today.