Safety oversight of the nation's aviation industry will be further strengthened in the 2009-10 Budget with the allocation of funding to help establish a new expert board for the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).

The Budget provides $0.6 million to support the establishment of the board, which will be in place by July this year.

The safety of the travelling public remains the Rudd Labor Government's highest transport priority. The new Board will provide high-level direction to the organisation's regulatory and safety oversight role.

Legislation establishing a five-member expert board was passed by the Parliament in March of this year. The Board will strengthen CASA's role as Australia's independent aviation safety regulator.

The Board will facilitate stronger links with other government agencies and allow more meaningful and constructive input from industry and other stakeholders into aviation safety strategy.

CASA's new Chief Executive Officer, John McCormick, will be an ex-officio member of the board and the Government will shortly announce appointments to the other positions, including the Chair and the Deputy Chair.

This Budget decision fulfils an election commitment.

While this is a significant reform, there is more work to be done.

Further measures to strengthen the safety and reliability of air travel will be outlined in Australia's first ever Aviation White Paper which is expected to be finalised in the second half of 2009.