Following the Aviation White Paper, the Australian Government is consulting on the establishment of an Aviation Industry Ombuds Scheme, which will incorporate the current Aircraft Noise Ombudsman (ANO).
The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts (the Department) has released a public consultation paper on Aviation Consumer Protections under the Aviation Industry Ombuds Scheme. This includes some discussion of the role and objectives of the Aircraft Noise Ombudsperson.
The ANO welcomes this next step in reforming how aircraft noise complaints are managed in Australia. The ANO’s independent role and responsibilities will be unchanged. However, its independence will be bolstered by being removed from Airservices corporate functions and the ability to publish its own reports and make recommendations directly to the Australian Government for regulatory or policy change.
The ANO strongly supports the increased independence for the role.
Your views can be given directly to the Department by 5 October 2025.