Changes to the Civil Aviation Act 1988 to compel CASA to take into account the cost of regulation are expected to be presented to parliament sometime in the new year.
According to sources inside the government, the wording of the Act will change to incorporate part of the current Statement of Expectations (SOE).
It is believed the new wording has been sent to Shadow Minister for Transport Anthony Albanese, who has promised a level of bipartisan support for general aviation.
The SOE currently states that CASA must: "consider the economic and cost impact on individuals, businesses and the community in the development and finalisation of new or amended regulatory changes" and "take a pragmatic, practical and proportionate approach to regulation as it applies to different industry sectors having regard to risk."
Industry associations, prompted by Dick Smith's "Stop the Lie" campaign, have been lobbying for the Act to be changed for some time, culminating in the AGAA summit in Wagga last July.
The AGAA summit went a step further, demanding that CASA also have responsibility for "maintaining an efficient and sustainable Australian aviation industry, including a viable general aviation and training sector" and "creating the conditions for more people to benefit from civil aviation."
It is thought that the government wants to keep CASA purely as a regulatory authority and will not be including these responsibilities in the new wording of the Act.
However, the government has admitted that many of the issues can be tackled by other government departments and bodies.
Both houses of parliament sit from 26 November to 6 December this year before rising. Sources have indicated that the government has other bills it seeks to pass before it considers the wording to the Civil Aviation Act.