Introduction
As the accountable authority of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), I am pleased to present the ATSB’s Corporate Plan for 2015–16, which covers the period 2015–16 to 2018–19.
This Corporate Plan sets out the ATSB’s purpose, its strategies for achieving that purpose and how the effect of the strategies and the attainment of the ATSB’s purpose will be measured. It has been prepared in accordance with paragraph 35(1)(b) of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013. The Plan takes account of the relevant provisions of the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003 (the TSI Act), which establishes the ATSB. It also has regard to the views of the Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development on the ATSB’s strategic direction as notified under Section 12AE of the TSI Act.
The TSI Act provides that the ATSB’s primary purpose is to improve the safety of aviation, rail and marine transport through accident investigation, data analysis and safety education. It must do so independently, but in cooperation with the other organisations that share responsibility for transport safety, including counterpart organisations in other countries. Successive governments, including the current one, have indicated that, in carrying out its role, the ATSB should give priority to the safety of the travelling public.
The ATSB is required to maintain the people, information and systems to be a world leader in its field. This includes the standing capability to respond immediately to a significant transport safety event, whether it be a major accident or, as is the current case, to undertake a major safety project such as the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. This plan sets out its strategies for doing so in an environment of fast technological advances, constrained resources and significant demographic change in its workforce.
The ATSB has consistently proven itself to be at the forefront internationally in its capability and in its results. I look forward to continuing that achievement as the ATSB implements this Corporate Plan.
Martin Dolan
Chief Commissioner
31 August 2015