Published Monday, 03 December, 2007 at 04:07 PM
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Aviation Australia's sale to take it to new heights: Bligh
Aviation Australia, Queensland’s premier training body for aviation skills, is being offered for sale to further promote the State’s aviation industry development, Premier Anna Bligh said today.
“Both the Queensland aviation industry and Aviation Australia are ready for this move,” said the Premier.
“Aviation Australia has a crucial role to play in the future of Queensland’s aviation sector and the Government will require that the Aviation Australia business remains based in Queensland.”
In 2001 the Queensland Government established Aviation Australia as a centre of excellence for aviation industry education and training, to ensure the continued availability of skilled people to fill the quality jobs offered in the State’s rapidly expanding aviation industry.
The State’s aviation industry now employs more than 12,000 people.
“In establishing Aviation Australia, the Government’s clear objective was to provide sufficient start-up funding and support to allow the business to develop to a level at which it could operate commercially.
“This move also addressed the need for a significant aviation training centre in Queensland to surpass facilities in Victoria and New South Wales.
Aviation Australia has made significant achievements over its six years and now offers maintenance training as well as aviation management courses and airline cabin-crew training.
It has successfully trained more than 600 local aircraft maintenance engineering students and nearly 95% of graduates have secured full-time employment.
Aviation Australia has also developed a number of regular export clients for its services, including; Airbus, Air Niugini, Cathay Pacific and Emirates for maintenance training and Etihad Airways and Hong Kong Airlines for flight attendant training and recruitment services.
Ms Bligh said that potential bidders will need to demonstrate how they will develop the business, and how they will continue to support the State aviation industry’s growth, through the provision of high quality aviation training in first-class facilities.
“Bidders will also be required to demonstrate their commitment to maintaining important community service obligations, particularly on-going support for aviation education in secondary schools, and a strong regional presence for the Aviation Skills Centres in Cairns and Ipswich,” she said.
“Aviation Australia is a key contributor to the developing Queensland aviation hub and is building both its range of local training output and education exports.
“I believe that it will make an even bigger contribution in private ownership.”
“Queensland Treasury will undertake the competitive sale of the Government’s shares in Aviation Australia and it is expected that the sale will be finalised in the first half of 2008,“ said Ms Bligh.
“The Government’s intention has always been to exit the business to allow Aviation Australia to further develop,” she said.
Media contact: Premier’s Office 3224 4500
“Both the Queensland aviation industry and Aviation Australia are ready for this move,” said the Premier.
“Aviation Australia has a crucial role to play in the future of Queensland’s aviation sector and the Government will require that the Aviation Australia business remains based in Queensland.”
In 2001 the Queensland Government established Aviation Australia as a centre of excellence for aviation industry education and training, to ensure the continued availability of skilled people to fill the quality jobs offered in the State’s rapidly expanding aviation industry.
The State’s aviation industry now employs more than 12,000 people.
“In establishing Aviation Australia, the Government’s clear objective was to provide sufficient start-up funding and support to allow the business to develop to a level at which it could operate commercially.
“This move also addressed the need for a significant aviation training centre in Queensland to surpass facilities in Victoria and New South Wales.
Aviation Australia has made significant achievements over its six years and now offers maintenance training as well as aviation management courses and airline cabin-crew training.
It has successfully trained more than 600 local aircraft maintenance engineering students and nearly 95% of graduates have secured full-time employment.
Aviation Australia has also developed a number of regular export clients for its services, including; Airbus, Air Niugini, Cathay Pacific and Emirates for maintenance training and Etihad Airways and Hong Kong Airlines for flight attendant training and recruitment services.
Ms Bligh said that potential bidders will need to demonstrate how they will develop the business, and how they will continue to support the State aviation industry’s growth, through the provision of high quality aviation training in first-class facilities.
“Bidders will also be required to demonstrate their commitment to maintaining important community service obligations, particularly on-going support for aviation education in secondary schools, and a strong regional presence for the Aviation Skills Centres in Cairns and Ipswich,” she said.
“Aviation Australia is a key contributor to the developing Queensland aviation hub and is building both its range of local training output and education exports.
“I believe that it will make an even bigger contribution in private ownership.”
“Queensland Treasury will undertake the competitive sale of the Government’s shares in Aviation Australia and it is expected that the sale will be finalised in the first half of 2008,“ said Ms Bligh.
“The Government’s intention has always been to exit the business to allow Aviation Australia to further develop,” she said.
Media contact: Premier’s Office 3224 4500