Securitisation and South Pacific Aviation

Abstract

This In Brief examines the securitisation of civil aviation in Australia after 9/11 (2001) and its impact on South Pacific civil aviation regulatory outcomes. Post-9/11 Australia's strategic influence in the South Pacific region saw the civil aviation regulatory focus shift from safety to security. However, the lack of regional support for initiatives such as the establishment of the Pacific Aviation Safety Office (PASO), as well as the subsequent near-collapse of the organisation, suggests that the shift was reflective of Australia's strategic priorities more than it was reflective of Pacific interests in this sector. Show more