The Senate Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport (RRAT) will refer CASA's actions in the Pel-Air investigation to the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
During the inquiry into the ATSB's investigation report, the RRAT found that CASA withheld from the ATSB a report into CASA's oversight of Pel-Air's operations (the Chambers Report). It is feared this could constitute a breach of Section 24 of the Transport Safety Investigation Act.
"On the weight of the evidence reviewed," the RRAT report states,"the committee questions CASA's motivation in withholding the Chambers Report from the ATSB.
"This leads the committee to conclude that CASA may have breached section 24 of the TSI Act by withholding the document. To ensure that any appropriate action is taken, the committee will write to the Australian Federal Police, providing a copy of this report and supporting evidence for review."
Section 24 of the TSI Act makes it an offence if a person engages in conduct that is reckless and adversely affects an investigation.