No psychometric testing review in Australian aviation after Erin Patterson, Greg Lynn cases

RNZ News

7 days ago

By
Daniel Ziffer
, ABC
Erin Patterson.
Photo:
ABC News
The aviation sector was once home to two of Australia's most high-profile murderers, however, documents reveal Airservices Australia and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority have not reviewed their systems of psychometric testing.
The ABC sought documents through the Freedom of Information (FOI) process about former air traffic controller Erin Patterson, former Jetstar pilot Greg Lynn and the testing used to assess the suitability of people in the aviation industry.
Last week, Patterson was found guilty of three counts of murder and one of attempted murder, for fatally poisoning her lunch guests with a beef Wellington dish containing death cap mushrooms.
Former Jetstar pilot Greg Lynn was found guilty of murdering Carol Clay during a campsite dispute in Victoria's High Country in 2020. The fight, which was not witnessed by anyone else, also resulted in the death of Ms Clay's companion, Russell Hill.
Lynn continues to maintain his innocence, arguing that he was not to blame for either death and is appealing the jury's decision that he murdered Ms Clay.
Erin Scutter (who later became Erin Patterson) pictured during an Airservices Australia class in 2001.
Photo:
Supplied/ABC News
Erin Patterson, then Erin Scutter, was employed by Airservices Australia as an air traffic controller from February 12, 2001 to November 28, 2002.
She was charged with murder in 2023.
The ABC sought documents from Airservices Australia that covered any reviews or reports on the psychometric testing regime in the four years to May 2025.
Psychometric tests measure an individual's mental capabilities and behavioural style, and are used by government departments and private companies to assess candidates and employees.
The tests may be used to assess suitability for roles, suggesting how someone would cope in jobs that involve stressful or demanding tasks.
In addition, Airservices was requested to check for any meetings about psychometric testing that included a senior management member in the same time period.
Its response to both queries was that nothing was found, despite liaising with its people and culture department, who manage the providers of Airservices' psychometric testing.
"P&C confirmed they do not hold any relevant documents, and neither were they aware of any review or report in this regard."
Asked for further information, Airservices Australia declined to comment beyond confirming the dates of Erin Patterson's employment.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has been asked repeatedly about its testing since Greg Lynn was charged with murder.
The FOI documents revealed that in March 2022, a journalist from The Australian asked how Greg Lynn passed a medical exam months after the High Country deaths.
The extensive response discussed the assessment process for people to hold "aviation medical certificates" including mental health checks.
"Aviation medical examiners, community consulting medical practitioners and the CASA Medical Officers together apply their extensive clinical and aviation medical experience to work with the person holding the certificate, to ensure their mental health is not an issue for their aviation activities," CASA said.
"Personality and behaviour issues are not the same as issues with mental health or the presence of mental illness, although they can be linked.
"Although violent offenders may be more likely to have a mental health disorder than people who do not commit violent acts, it is important to be clear that people with mental illness are not destined to become violent offenders, and most violent offenders do not have a mental illness."
Psychometric testing is used to measure intellectual aptitude and personality traits, rather than as a method to diagnose a mental health condition.
CASA also has a system in place for the reporting of "unsafe behaviours" such as excessive drinking, which are "reviewed and investigated as appropriate".
"It is the sad reality that people from all walks of life are capable of violent acts that can't be predicted with any form of medical examination or assessment," the safety authority said.
Contacted about the assessment and any changes since that time, a CASA spokesperson said the agency "thoroughly assesses the health of every commercial airline pilot and air traffic controller".
"Further psychometric testing may be used in specific situations where necessary, such as where a head injury or mild cognitive impairment is involved," the spokesperson said.
"CASA works closely with community medical practitioners and aviation employers to identify and address current, and the risk of future, health issues."
The trial of Greg Lynn over the deaths of Carol Clay and Russell Hill in the remote Wonnangatta Valley may have transfixed the nation, but it didn't appear to cause discussion at Airservices Australia.
In a three-year period covering his arrest and eventual conviction, "Greg Lynn was not the subject of discussion, correspondence, meetings etc", a spokesperson said.
While the name "Greg Lynn" appeared in the results captured by routine media summary emails that collate articles from news media websites, which are then circulated to Airservices personnel for interest, an FOI request returned no responses.
A separate request for documents relating to Erin Patterson was declined, on the grounds the documents were exempt due to "affecting enforcement of law", concerned "Commonwealth-State relations" and could impact the "personal privacy" of Patterson and others.
In declining the documents, Airservices Australia said it had consulted with officers of the Victorian government, but that the "ongoing matter currently before the courts" meant any release of the material "could reasonably be expected to prejudice the conduct of the investigation".
"I consider that disclosure of the documents would prejudice the current investigations on foot. I consider it likely that the documents and the parties involved, will be subject to scrutiny over matters which have not been thoroughly investigated by the appropriate law enforcement agency," it said.
In refusing the release, the decision maker said if the documents were made public, it was likely that "the relevant parties would be discouraged from actively participating in the current investigation" and this could prejudice the current investigation.
Erin Patterson arriving in the back of a prison transport vehicle at Latrobe Valley Magistrate's Court in Morwell, Australia.
Photo:
AFP / MARTIN KEEP
The Freedom of Information (FOI) process - also called Right To Information (RTI) in some jurisdictions - aims to give people access to information created by government agencies and departments.
The vast majority of requests are from people seeking their own records or details of their interactions with a department.
Federally the department that fields the most requests is Home Affairs (which manages visas) and Services Australia (which manages Centrelink).
In states and territories, most applications tend to be to agencies that deal with the public, such as the police and hospitals.
Journalists, researchers, think-tanks and politicians also use the process to examine government decision making and outcomes.
Search "FOI" on the website of the department or agency you are seeking information from. Charges may apply.
- ABC