The ATSB supplied the Department of infrastructure, Regional development and Cities with the de-identified report and a version of the operator’s response. The Department advised that any safety concerns are a matter for CASA and had no further comment on the REPCON.

As the aerodrome is uncertified, there are no requirements for the aerodrome to meet standards outlined in the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR). As such, the REPCON was not forwarded to CASA.

The ATSB received the following comment from one of the reporters: “The fact is there were instances that no handover was present when the controllers returned from the industrial action.  Management had not organised a verbal handover and ushered everyone out of the room except one person, it was their decision to conduct the process this way. To say it is like an evacuation, gives management the right to break any rules that are in place.”