I have never heard of dispensation being granted. Dispensation can only be granted by the Minister or his delegate.
Its not that rare to get a dispensation despite what the pollies may say, here is a selection form earlier this year that were either OK'd or denied:
DETAILS OF DISPENSATION
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Date: Tuesday, 26 February 2008 [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Aircraft: B767-300 [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Registration: VH-ZXE [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Operator: Qantas [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Operation: Departure after 11pm [/FONT]
CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING TO REQUEST
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Qantas flight QF548 (Sydney to Brisbane) was diverted to Canberra earlier in the evening due to weather conditions in Sydney. A hold was placed on QF548 in Canberra due to local storms resulting in delays to Sydney. Once ready for departure at Canberra, a passenger failed to board. This event triggered mandatory security checks and the removal of that passenger’s checked baggage. These mandatory security checks caused a further delay in take-off. Once the aircraft was to arrive in Sydney it was scheduled to depart for Brisbane. This flight had been delayed by the delay out of Canberra. Qantas was able to turn around the aircraft quickly to allow departure for Brisbane. There were 181 passengers and 10 crew members on board. [/FONT]
Approved: Yes
DETAILS OF DISPENSATION
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Date: Wednesday, 27 February 2008 [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Aircraft: B737-800 [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Registration: VH-VBC [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Operator: Virgin Blue [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Operation: Arrival after 11pm [/FONT]
CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING TO REQUEST
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Virgin Blue flight DJ528 (Coolangatta to Sydney) was preparing to board passengers when an IT outage occurred affecting passenger boarding records. This required Virgin Blue to manually board passengers which created a delay to departure from Coolangatta. There were 115 passengers and 6 crew members on board. [/FONT]
Approved: Yes
DETAILS OF DISPENSATION
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Date: Monday, 3 March 2008 [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Aircraft: B747-400 [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Registration: VH-OJO [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Operator: Qantas [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Operation: Departure after 11pm [/FONT]
CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING TO REQUEST
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Qantas flight QF1 (Sydney to London) was preparing for departure when engineers discovered a fault in the brake hoses on the landing gear. Engineering examination determined the fault was repairable, but the departure would be delayed. There were 354 passengers and [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]20 crew on board. [/FONT]
Approved: Yes
DETAILS OF DISPENSATION
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Date: Thursday, 6 March 2008 [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Aircraft: A320-200 [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Registration: VH-JQG [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Operator: Jetstar [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Operation: Arrival after 11pm [/FONT]
CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING TO REQUEST
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]On turnaround at Coolangatta of Jetstar flight JQ427 (Coolangatta to Sydney), a engine bleed fault was identified. After examination by engineers, Jetstar advised that the aircraft could operate with a high power engine run but would require to be towed onto the runway for departure. Examination of the fault and additional towing procedures delayed the scheduled flight which was originally due to arrive in Sydney at 9:55pm. There were 157 passengers (plus 6 infants) and 6 crew members on board. [/FONT]
Approved: Yes
DETAILS OF DISPENSATION
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Date: Friday, 7 March 2008 [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Aircraft: B747-400 [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Registration: 9M-MPL [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Operator: Malaysia Airlines [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Operation: Departure after 11pm [/FONT]
CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING TO REQUEST
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Malaysia Airlines flight MH140 (Sydney to Kuala Lumpur) had encountered delays throughout the evening due to electrical storm activity which caused engineers, baggage loaders, cleaners, caterers to evacuate the tarmac for occupational safety reasons. Malaysia Airlines was loaded and almost ready for pushback at 10:55pm when containers in the cargo hold jammed, therefore inhibiting closure of the cargo hold door. By 11:05 the hold was finally closed, but by this time the pushback tug had disconnected. The tug had to be recalled to undertake pushback. There were 284 passengers and 20 crew members on board. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]DETAILS OF DISPENSATION [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman][FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Date: Friday, 7 March 2008 [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Aircraft: A330-300 [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Registration: VH-QPD [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Operator: Qantas [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Operation: Departure after 11pm [/FONT]
CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING TO REQUEST
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Qantas flight QF21 (Sydney to Tokyo) was unable to reposition the international flight from the domestic terminal due to electrical storm activity which caused personnel to evacuate the tarmac for occupational safety reasons. These evacuations significantly delayed the aircraft positioning to the international terminal for departure. In addition, the inbound arrival of an Air Ambulance taking priority further delayed departure. There were 299 passengers and 14 crew members on board. [/FONT]
Approved: Yes
DETAILS OF DISPENSATION
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Date: Friday, 7 March 2008 [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Aircraft: A330-300 [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Registration: BLAE [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Operator: Cathay Pacific [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Operation: Departure after 11pm [/FONT]
CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING TO REQUEST
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Cathay Pacific flight CX138 (Sydney to Hong Kong) was unable to depart Sydney Airport due to the storm activity over Sydney and personnel being evacuated from the tarmac for safety reasons. There were 198 passengers and 13 crew members on board. [/FONT]
Approved: Yes
DETAILS OF DISPENSATION
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Date: Wednesday, 12 March 2008 [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Aircraft: A320-200 [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Registration: VH-VQY [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Operator: Jetstar [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Operation: Arrival after 11pm [/FONT]
CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING TO REQUEST
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Jetstar flight JQ748 (Launceston to Sydney) suffered a compressor fault on turnaround in Launceston. After examination by engineers, Jetstar advised that the aircraft could operate with a high power engine run but would require to be towed onto the runway for departure. Examination of the fault and additional towing procedures delayed the scheduled flight. There were 152 passengers and 7 crew members on board. [/FONT]
Approved: Yes
DETAILS OF DISPENSATION
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Date: Sunday, 2 March 2008 [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Aircraft: B747-400 [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Registration: VH-OJQ [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Operator: Qantas [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Operation: Departure after 11pm [/FONT]
CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING TO REQUEST
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]An earlier Qantas flight (QF9) from Singapore to London suffered engine problems and diverted to Delhi for repair. After the engineering examination Qantas determined, some nine hours later, that a replacement aircraft was required to ensure minimal delays to the 354 passengers and 16 crew on board. Qantas had organised to use a B747-400 in its maintenance hangar, with a crew of 5 flight personnel and 10 engineers onboard to collect the passengers and crew stranded in Delhi and carry on the QF9 flight to London. When preparing the replacement aircraft from Sydney, a fuel valve problem was identified. After an engineering inspection the fault was deemed repairable but departure would be delayed until after the commencement of curfew. [/FONT]
Approved: No
[/FONT]