XN000022-1985-11-20 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1985

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SIR JOHN SAID THEY HAD TOGETHER MADE A TOTAL OF 15 LICENCE APPLICATIONS TO ATLA AND THERE WAS ALSO A PROSPECT OF FURTHER AIRLINES SEEKING TO ENTER THE AIR TRANSPORT MARKET SHORTLY.

+THIS NEW SITUATION HAS REQUIRED THE GOVERNMENT TO RECONSIDER ITS POLICY IN RELATION TO CERTAIN AIR SERVICES MATTERS.

+ IT HAS DONE SO, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ITS OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY

IT HAS AND THE INTERESTS OF THE TRAVELLING PUBLIC AND SHIPPERS. ALSO HAD TO TAKE COGNISANCE OF THE HIGHLY REGULATED NATURE OF THE INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORT INDUSTRY, SIR JOHN SAID.

STATEMENT ON DIRECTOR OF AUDIT'S REPORT ****

THE APPROPRIATE FORUM FOR CONSIDERING POLICY ISSUES INCLUDING ANY THAT MAY BE RAISED IN THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT'S ANNUAL REPORT, IS THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHERE THEY CAN BE PROPERLY AND FULLY DEBATED, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

SIR DAVID WAS MAKING A STATEMENT WHILE TABLING A GOVERNMENT PAPER IN RESPONSE TO COMMENTS ON CERTAIN POLICY ISSUES CONTAINED IN THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT'S ANNUAL REPORT.

THE ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 1985, WAS ALSO TABLED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

EXPLAINING THE REASONS FOR GOVERNMENT PROCEEDING IN THIS WAY, HE SAID: +MOREOVER, FROM A PRACTICAL POINT OF VIEW, CONTROLLING OFFICERS WHO ARE REQUIRED TO APPEAR BEFORE THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE, ARE RARELY THE OFFICERS RESPONSIBLE FOR POLICY, AND ARE NOT THEREFORE USUALLY IN A POSITION TO RESPOND AUTHORITATIVELY ON MATTER OF POLICY.+

SIR DAVID SAID THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT'S REPORT WAS A

+THOROUGH AND HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL+ PIECE OF WORK.

+THE POINT I MAKE IS ONE OF PRINCIPLE REGARDING THE PROCEDURES TO BE USED FOR DISCUSSION OF POLICY ISSUES RAISED BY THE REPORT- BUT LET ME, AT THE SAME TIME, ASSURE MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL THE GOVERNMENT WILL ANSWER ALL THE POINTS RAISED IN IT,+ HE SAID.

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