Russian roulette – Ministerial style.
It had to happen – one day; inevitable. The ‘safety’ agencies have been risking ministerial careers ably aided and abetted by disinterested ministers, content to hide behind the barricades listening to the weavers of fantasy tales. Chancy business, the old Russian roulette, one chance in six of getting a bullet in the head. Mind you, on a percentage basis, the ministerial head is probably the best area to be shot in, not too much in there to be damaged.
The Mt Isa story reflects only one small part of why there is rightful contempt, distrust and fear of this infamous CASA organization. The reputation earned over many years now, supported by fact, all contemptuously dismissed by an arrogant deceitful management. Well, its on the ministers bullet now; like it not, the bullet does stop there and ignorance is no excuse, the legal eagles tell us. When consecutive ministers prefer to ignore the protest, deny the facts and turn a blind eye to the abysmal state CASA has degenerated into, then, it only seems fair that the minister should catch the load in chamber 6. You can only spin the chambers of a revolver so many times.
I wonder, does the minister have a taste for investigating legends? There are several specimens within his box of frogs which are toxic; for example, among the protected species of frog is the confidential informant frog. Any Copper worth his salt will tell you the value of this species. It is not difficult to catch and tame one of the species, usually it is a matter of a willing buyer and a willing seller; or, simply leverage. Then, it becomes acceptable, if distasteful to look the other way when your tame frog hops off the reservation – provided it shares the spoils. CASA will never admit to using the species; but, a careful look at cases brought against hearsay information provided, leaves a small but definable breadcrumb trail. Oh, you need to look hard to see ‘em but the tracks are there.
“What has this to do with Mt Isa”, you ask? “Join the dots” I say. I will give you a clue or two; but that’s it. Why has CASA not claimed all the kudos and credit as the lead agency in the Qld police investigation? Why, when serious criminal, black letter law, strict liability charges are laid for even not sharpening your pencil correctly, has the accused managed to escape the eagle eye of the CASA auditors for so long? The gods know how many operators and pilots have been crucified on very shaky ‘evidence’, carefully construed into ‘facts and circumstances’, prosecuted by the full might of CASA ‘legal’. So, the questions begging - WTF were CASA really doing?
Of course I may be, once again, barking up the wrong tree. Even so; without any investigation into the deep, dark doings of CASA officers, there is enough rope there to hang a minister and force an enquiry into the way CASA do business. The only road to salvation for the minister is through an open, public inquiry, independent of government influence (well as close to as possible), accept the findings and be known as ‘the man’ who grabbed CASA by the scruff of the neck and beat seven bells out of it. Then industry may move forward.
This is not a comfortable situation for the willing accomplice; government may move to smother it, the minister may try to wash his hands of it, CASA can bring all hands on deck to man the pumps; spin until as giddy as my Aunt Mable. But this time around, make no mistake, the ship is going down; rats, frogs and all.
Toot toot.
It had to happen – one day; inevitable. The ‘safety’ agencies have been risking ministerial careers ably aided and abetted by disinterested ministers, content to hide behind the barricades listening to the weavers of fantasy tales. Chancy business, the old Russian roulette, one chance in six of getting a bullet in the head. Mind you, on a percentage basis, the ministerial head is probably the best area to be shot in, not too much in there to be damaged.
The Mt Isa story reflects only one small part of why there is rightful contempt, distrust and fear of this infamous CASA organization. The reputation earned over many years now, supported by fact, all contemptuously dismissed by an arrogant deceitful management. Well, its on the ministers bullet now; like it not, the bullet does stop there and ignorance is no excuse, the legal eagles tell us. When consecutive ministers prefer to ignore the protest, deny the facts and turn a blind eye to the abysmal state CASA has degenerated into, then, it only seems fair that the minister should catch the load in chamber 6. You can only spin the chambers of a revolver so many times.
I wonder, does the minister have a taste for investigating legends? There are several specimens within his box of frogs which are toxic; for example, among the protected species of frog is the confidential informant frog. Any Copper worth his salt will tell you the value of this species. It is not difficult to catch and tame one of the species, usually it is a matter of a willing buyer and a willing seller; or, simply leverage. Then, it becomes acceptable, if distasteful to look the other way when your tame frog hops off the reservation – provided it shares the spoils. CASA will never admit to using the species; but, a careful look at cases brought against hearsay information provided, leaves a small but definable breadcrumb trail. Oh, you need to look hard to see ‘em but the tracks are there.
“What has this to do with Mt Isa”, you ask? “Join the dots” I say. I will give you a clue or two; but that’s it. Why has CASA not claimed all the kudos and credit as the lead agency in the Qld police investigation? Why, when serious criminal, black letter law, strict liability charges are laid for even not sharpening your pencil correctly, has the accused managed to escape the eagle eye of the CASA auditors for so long? The gods know how many operators and pilots have been crucified on very shaky ‘evidence’, carefully construed into ‘facts and circumstances’, prosecuted by the full might of CASA ‘legal’. So, the questions begging - WTF were CASA really doing?
Of course I may be, once again, barking up the wrong tree. Even so; without any investigation into the deep, dark doings of CASA officers, there is enough rope there to hang a minister and force an enquiry into the way CASA do business. The only road to salvation for the minister is through an open, public inquiry, independent of government influence (well as close to as possible), accept the findings and be known as ‘the man’ who grabbed CASA by the scruff of the neck and beat seven bells out of it. Then industry may move forward.
This is not a comfortable situation for the willing accomplice; government may move to smother it, the minister may try to wash his hands of it, CASA can bring all hands on deck to man the pumps; spin until as giddy as my Aunt Mable. But this time around, make no mistake, the ship is going down; rats, frogs and all.
Toot toot.