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RE: Of Mandarins & Minions. - Kharon - 06-08-2016

Short: but significant?

Quote:P2 - Someone as efficient, astute & reportedly competent as Mike Mrdak and he wants us to believe he wasn't aware of the potential perception of 'conflict of interest' in his department's dealings and the 'independence' issues with the NSW government dealings with KPMG - yeah right 'BOLLOCKS'

It is not often the MM fumbles playing a delivery; when he’s on solid ground.  Glen Sterle (legend) is a canny bowler, from Arm ball* to Yorker* and he displays his full arsenal in this very interesting passage of play.  MM looked very unsettled at the beginning of the over, unable to read the balls flight.   I may have to run a tote on the sale of ASA; logically and financially it makes good sense; but, we are dealing with a ‘department’ and government; so setting the odds will be tricky, we shall see.

The ‘conflict of interest’ ball, lobbed rather than bowled, is smartly played away safe by MM; as it was the last ball of the over, he would be relieved to see the change of ends.  

Heff will be missed, no doubt of that; but Sterle is shaping up to be a most satisfactory replacement.  I find it pleasing to see men of honour, (yes, yes and women) and integrity from all sides of politics putting aside their ‘philosophical differences’ in the spirit of what’s good for the nation, restoring a little of the lost faith is a bonus of watching the machinations of the ‘departments’ slowly unveiled.  

Quote:*Arm ball a deceptive delivery bowled by an off spin bowler that is not spun, so, unlike the off break, it travels straight on (with the bowler's arm). A particularly good bowler's arm ball might also swing away from the batsman in the air (or in to him when delivered by a left-armer)

Quote:*Yorker - a (usually fast) delivery that is pitched very close to the batsman. The intent is for it to pitch exactly underneath his bat or on his toes, in the block hole. A perfectly pitched fast yorker is almost impossible to keep out; a poorly delivered yorker can turn into a half-volley (too short) or a full toss (too full).

Toot toot... Big Grin

RE: Of Mandarins & Minions. - Peetwo - 06-08-2016

Sterling Sterlo vs WOFTAM Wong.

Totally agree "K", Sterlo's performance above gives me heart that the Senate RRAT will remain mostly apolitical, relevant and effective in inquiry or estimates. 

While we are in the red corner, compare the Senator Sterle non-political performance above to the following (reference: Wong muck raking & the GRABOR Party):


Quote:Here is the Hansard:
Quote: Wrote:24 February 2015 (HTML & PDF)

Infrastructure and Regional Development

There are 2 sections of Hansard that IMO go to the 'true' intent of Senator Wong i.e. political point scoring...

...This was the ASA QON of which Wong asked 5 pretty much nugatory questions from the Hansard:
Quote: Wrote:140-160


Airservices Australia
(PDF 825KB)
Correction to QoN 156 (PDF 146 KB)
15/05/2015

The OBS here is that if Wong was so 'enraged' by the possibility that South Australian ATCOs may lose their jobs, then you would of thought the Senator would have put many more written QON to ASA? Perhaps she discovered the amount of political muck raking she could cause was negligible and so she gave it up. She certainly didn't follow up the issue in any RRAT Estimates since.. [Image: dodgy.gif]

Get the picture?

One of the other disturbing things with the Wong political mud-raking campaign is that she believes that taxpayers should pay for the privilege. The perfect example of this was when PW instigated a Senate inquiry just prior to the election:
Quote:
Quote: Wrote:Commonwealth legislative provisions relating to oversight of associated entities of political parties


On 19 April 2016, the following matter was referred to the Finance and Public Administration References Committee for inquiry and report by the 4 May 2016:

Commonwealth legislative provisions relating to oversight of associated entities of political parties, with particular reference to the adequacy of:

  1. the funding and disclosure regime relating to annual returns;
  1. the powers of the Australian Electoral Commission with respect to supervision of the conduct of, and reporting by, associated entities of political parties; and
  2. any related matters; and
2.     That the Senate direct Senator Sinodinos to appear before the committee to answer questions.

The Submission closing date is mid-day, Tuesday 26 April 2016. The reporting date is 4 May 2016.

This inquiry is a sham, first you have five days to make a submission; then two days later the inquiry is listed for public hearing with the next day as a back up; then the committee is expected to report by the 4th of May, which just so happens to be 1 day after the budget is handed down and 1 day before the Short-one's reply to the budget and presumably 2 days before the PM's DD election proroguing of Parliament.

In other words we the taxpayers are effectively funding part of the Grabor election campaign through a bogus political point scoring Senate Inquiry, designed to inflict maximum embarrassment to the PM on the eve of calling an election - absolutely, diabolically disgusting, shame on you Shorten, Wong & co. [Image: angry.gif]      

And then there was the Wong QON -  WONG QON III. & HERE:
Quote:From that it can be seen that Senator Wong has indeed over 1500 QON on record - Senator Wong (ALP) 1771 - with the next highest on record being from Senator Lambie with 121.
Presumably some of this high number can be explained by the fact that Wong is the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and therefore largely represents the interests of the Opposition. However if you compare that to the previous parliament where Senator Abetz was in the same position, he asked a total of 737 QON for the whole of the 43rd Parliament.

I guess the big number of QON from Wong could be accepted (i.e. in the public interest) if they were mostly questions that challenged the veracity & legitimacy of the Coalition Government - but are they? Another point/question that I'd like to make is that from past experience with QON in Senate Estimates, is the Parliamentary QON system an effective and legitimate way of holding the government to account; or is it just more political posturing & point scoring??

..Wong 269 unanswered QON: Avoiding the 80 odd highly repetitive QON addressed to the Treasurer on the 16 December 2015, let us go to the QON asked of PM Turnbull on the same date:
Quote: Wrote:Question on notice no. 2848

Senator the Hon. Penny Wong

Minister representing the Prime Minister

Notice given 16 December 2015

Senator the Hon. Penny Wong: asked the Minister representing the Prime Minister on 16 December 2015:

(1) In regard to places allocated to the National Party under the Coalition Agreement signed by the Prime Minister, what quota is allocated in:
(a) the Cabinet; and
(b) the Ministry.
(2) Does the Prime Minister, or the Leader of the National Party, determine which members of the National Party fill the quotas.
(3) Will the Prime Minister provide a copy of the Coalition Agreement.

& ..

Question on notice no. 2849


Senator the Hon. Penny Wong

Minister representing the Prime Minister

Notice given 16 December 2015

Senator the Hon. Penny Wong: asked the Minister representing the Prime Minister on 16 December 2015:

Has the Prime Minister considered offering diplomatic posts to any other ex-ministers he removed from the ministry to prevent them staying in the Parliament for the sole purpose of 'getting even'.
 
Other examples from the next 2 QON 'cluster' dates  [Image: dodgy.gif] : 
Quote: Wrote:Senator the Hon. Penny Wong: asked the Minister representing the Prime Minister on 9 December 2015:

With reference to the Griswold Center for Economic Studies paper by Dr Martin Parkinson published in September 2015 titled 'The Lucky Country: Has it Run out of Luck?', does the Prime Minister agree with the incoming Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet that 'Australia is not well positioned for either the opportunities or challenges ahead'.
Senator the Hon. Penny Wong: asked the Minister representing the Prime Minister on 9 December 2015:

Did the Prime Minister or his department assist the former Prime Minister, Mr Tony Abbott, with his request to be received by The Queen in London in October 2015; if so, what assistance was provided.

Senator the Hon. Penny Wong: asked the Minister representing the Prime Minister on 4 December 2015:

(1) When and how did the Prime Minister become aware that the Deputy Prime Minister was having discussions with the Member for Groom, Mr Ian Macfarlane, about defecting from the Liberal Party room to the National Party room.
(2) Was the Prime Minister surprised to learn these discussions began just days after the Prime Minister chose not to appoint Mr Macfarlane to his ministry.
UFB- [Image: angry.gif]  Verdict: not in the public & citizens of SA interest  

 To put a line under the WONG QON series, at least for the 44th Parliament, the following is the Senate collated data up till the end of 2015:
Quote:Questions on Notice Summary 44th Parliament
For the period 12 November 2013 to 31 December 2015
This summary includes information for the 44th Parliament from 12 November 2013, when notice of the first question was given, till 31 December 2015.
© Commonwealth of Australia 2015
View the report as a single document - (PDF 629KB)

[Image: Wong-QON-IV.jpg]


Unfortunately this list does not include the nearly 300 QON frenzy that Wong went on between January to May 2016, however from the list above we get a fair appreciation of how out of control PW was in asking mostly politically motivated and therefore irrelevant QON. Of the 2895 QON, there was 2014 asked by Senator Wong. That is a whopping 70% of the total QON asked up until the 31st December 2015. Now compare that to Senator Sterle who, other than for Senate Estimates, for the whole of the 44th parliament asked a total of zero QON - see HERE if you don't believe me.


MTF...P2 Dodgy

RE: Of Mandarins & Minions. - thorn bird - 06-13-2016

General aviation is perceived by the uninformed somewhat like those unkempt, unwashed individuals you see from time to time parked on the pavement outside a store on Main Street. They may have an old supermarket trolley parked next to them full of god knows what, or a decrepit little dog leashed with a piece of string, generally with a sign written on a piece of cardboard placed next to a hat on the ground in front of them.
Bureaucrats view GA much like those poor pathetic individuals, they are there, but you would really prefer them to just go away, and you definitely should remain upwind of them.
 
Back in the seventies, before aviation was regulated out of business most little country towns had an air service of some sort, where did all those forty years old navajo's still flying begin their life?

Country folk are by and large practical intelligent people, they fully understood that their commuter airline was perhaps not as safe as Quaintasses shiny jets, but there was a need, and the small operator filled that need, provided a service, and their customers accepted the risks because country folk live with risk every day, they understood that their air service was far less chancy than their car and astute to the principle that time is money.

It is apparent bureaucrats appear unfortunately to have no concept of time and money or service and need. They live in a Pollie Waffle world where serving the public good is completely at odds with serving political imperatives and their own self-interest.

It is apparent in the case of aviation that servicing the need of the "mystic" of safety, an esoteric principle devoid of practicality and in many cases common sense is promoted by the self-interest of an unaccountable few, to the detriment of a whole industry and by extension, the whole of society.

Why is Australia, endowed with passionate, innovative, inventive, highly industrious individuals devoid of little in the way of aeronautical enterprise?

Our public reveres the exploits of our aviation pioneers, yet remain ignorant to the fact that today most of them would be thrown in jail. Perhaps CAsA understands that fact and uses it to promote the perception that everyone involved in aviation is a criminal requiring unfetted power and unaccountability to law devolved to them.

The head of CAsA denies the evidence that is slapping him in the face, that aviation in this country is in crisis.

“There are none so blind as them that cannot or will not see”.

Which should beg the question how someone apparently so inept or ignorant or foolish or maybe all three could have risen to such an exalted rank in our military? God help us if we find ourselves in another fair dinkum stoush if he’s an example of our military expertise.

I think of Canada, Ireland, Brazil, all with massive aviation industries, even New Zealand powers ahead of Australia. Yet here, someone with vision and talent develops an idea only to see their vision squashed under the weight of bureaucratic bullshit.

Just what is different in Canada, Ireland, Brazil and New Zealand that they have thriving aviation industries and we do not?

Our prime minister exhorts us to use our innovation and entrepreneurial skills on one hand, yet chooses to ignore the fact that his bureaucrats are busily building road blocks in the background, stifling any chance of anything innovative seeing the light of day.

Our big players in aviation stay silent, yet I’m told seeth with indignation at CAsA’s ignorant imposts. Endeavouring to understand why this should be, I hypothesise, given the myriad exemptions granted to them by the regulator they are loath to rock the boat.
Without these dispensations against impossible to comply with rules they couldn’t operate. They have legal clout sure, against CAsA’s worst imposts, economy of scale ensures the financial penalties are easier to mitigate, a few more dollars on the ticket price goes unnoticed by the punters, but the exemptions are another matter.

“The lord giveth but the lord can just as easily take away”

Our exalted director of safety maintains that our new regulations are admired around the world. I’m not sure which world he is talking about, some mythical place maybe.

IF this is true AVM Skidmore, can you name a country adopting our rules? The whole Pacific as far north as Mongolia have adopted New Zealand rules, just who has adopted ours? Another myth I’m afraid, did you dream that up on your own or have you believed the ear whisperers standing behind you, because I know from many I have contact with overseas Australia is in reality a bit of a joke.

You also maintain regardless of all the evidence to the contrary that the aviation Industry in Australia is in “Good shape”. I would ask compared with what?

Statistics AVM Skidmore? There is truth in Statistics AVM, but liars produce statistics.

The one point I find so alarming is the lack of Logic.

Given that rules are supposed to support safety, Australia should be the safest country in the world to fly in given the volume of our rules, yet statistically it is not.

So what purpose do our unique rules serve?

It has taken over thirty years to half finish our reformed rule set. If it takes another 25 years to finish them they will be out of date and need rewriting all over again. Was that the intention?

Has it taken so long because there were not enough resources? Or that careful consideration was required to adopt world best practice? Or ensure we aligned with other comparable jurisdictions? Or that we needed to be ICAO compliant?

Seems not, almost half a billion dollars so far would seem adequate, New Zealand only needed five million.Will it take another half billion to finish them? So much for Malcom's Fiscal responsibility.

Our regulations are unique, nothing like anyone else’s, least of all any other first world countries.

Is that why we have so many of pages of differences with ICAO recommendations?

The overlord sitting above all this has been sitting there for over 25 years, a long time for a public servant to remain in the same position. During this time ably assisted by his Colleague Martin Dolan, our airports were flogged off to overseas consortiums residing in tax free havens and property developers who’s prime objective was gouging as much money out of the industry as possible, subverting the airports act to support industrial development to the detriment of aviation activity, and bypass environmental laws.

Both these two, Mrdak and Dolan, have in one guise or another presided over the demise of aviation in Australia, overseen the squandering hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars, perverted a just culture, allowed our safety investigator to degenerate from a respected institution to a farce and aviation infrastructure to decline to third world status. They should be held to account.

I won’t hold my breath.Oh and guess who's on the Queens honours list? Go figure???

RE: Of Mandarins & Minions. - crankybastards - 06-13-2016

Ranks about as meritorious as our last Australian of the year. What a foreskin joke! Both of them.

RE: Of Mandarins & Minions. - Peetwo - 06-13-2016

Quote:TB - I won’t hold my breath. Oh and guess who's on the Queens honours list? Go figure???
 
Is there no bounds to the limitless hypocrisy awarded to our bloated trough-feeding, aviation safety bureaucracy:
Quote:Mr Michael Mrdak Kambah, ACT.

For distinguished service to public administration through executive roles in the infrastructure, transport and logistics sector, and through the development of policy reform initiatives.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/national/queens-birthday-honours-2016-the-full-list-20160608-gpec51.html#ixzz4BSRFgAw6
   
What next, Beaker to be knighted for services to excellence in Annex 13 Aviation Accident Investigation & for saving 100s of millions on the MH370 SIO search??-UFB! Dodgy


MTF...P2 Tongue

RE: Of Mandarins & Minions. - Kharon - 06-14-2016

Aww – fair crack of the whip; if MM played for the IOS we’d have a statue (or a nodding head dashboard doodad) made of him and cheer every time he popped up.  As it is, he plays for the opposition and plays well, very well indeed.  Sure, we burn him in effigy, but even so, you have to begrudgingly admire the skill. Not, mind you that he’d give a toss, one way or the other.  Perhaps he should:

"The weighing of the heart is the ancient Egyptian depiction of what happens at death. Anubis brings the Initiate before Osiris, who is one of forty-two divine judges, to have his heart (symbolizing the way he has spent his life) weighed upon the scales of justice against that of the feather (representing Ma’at – the universal order). If the scales are balanced, he has been judged to have achieved eternal life, but if weighing more, his heart is devoured by the crocodile Ammit and he is sent to the lake of fire (hell)."


Quote:334. Unas has passed by the dangerous place.
The fury of the Great Lake (S wr) avoided him.
His fare is not taken in the Great Ferryboat.
The Shrine of the Great Ones (Hedj-uru) could not ward him off the road (msk.t) of the sehedu-stars.

(An ancient pyramid inscription).


RE: Of Mandarins & Minions. - Peetwo - 06-14-2016

[Image: 13HOP7W4YZI8WKS-1000x666.jpg]

Dumb & dumber - Harfwit & Beaker sign their new top-cover agreement, courtesy Oz Flying:

Quote:Airservices and ATSB sign MoU
14 June 2016
 
Airservices Australia and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) signed an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Canberra last week.

Airservices CEO Jason Harfield signed the MoU alongside outgoing ATSB Chief Commissioner Martin Dolan on 9 June to "enhance aviation safety and reaffirm the cooperation between the agencies."

According to Airservices, one objective of the MoU is to "maximise aviation safety outcomes by providing a framework for both organisations to effectively continue their separate but complementary safety functions without impediment.

"The MoU was revised following an extensive quality assurance review to simplify cross-agency accountabilities associated with the retention of evidential material and the conduct of interviews of Airservices officers involved in a matter that the ATSB is investigating."

Both Airservices and the ATSB are required to disclose information during an investigation, and the MoU also makes sure those obligations are stated clearly and in alignment with current agreements.


Read more at http://www.australianflying.com.au/latest/airservices-and-atsb-sign-mou#O3mLoR4i0j7dG0Dg.99
 
Funny how these things get done while there is an election going on, I also wonder why they couldn't wait for Hoody to take over the reins at the ATSB? Surely Hoody would like the opportunity to place his personal stamp on any new MoU??

MTF..P2

RE: Of Mandarins & Minions. - Kharon - 06-15-2016

Manipulated, Obfuscated, Useless.

Quote:"The MoU was revised following an extensive quality assurance review to simplify cross-agency accountabilities. Etc”


You can see the real damage Pel-Air and several serious other ‘incidents’ have left in their wake; it’s reflected in the trite, cosy, arse covering, mutually beneficial, incestuous ‘understanding’ between these two supposedly independent safety agencies.  The only concern, cleverly concealed within the weasel words is for their own safety from accountability, nothing else.  

You can just hear the well rehearsed stock answer to an inquiry “at all times we acted within the terms of the 2016 MoU, they covered our sorry arses, we covered their scabby heads; all good, all legal, so, in the immortal words of Barmybaby, Piss off Senator”.

This MoU puts Hoody squarely in front of the bus.  He is either part of it, which makes him party to the connivance; or, he must set about changing the ‘understanding’ signed by Beaker to retain credibility. If anyone knows the machinations within ASA Hoody does. So, what’s that make Hood; a willing accomplice or a dupe?  I say, anything the Uriah Heep of accident investigation touches, particularly in cahoots with Halfwit must, be weighed against Hansard evidence, be viewed with deep suspicion and examined very, very carefully.  Either way, as the incoming CC of the ATSB you’d want a say, wouldn’t you?.  I know I would, lest folk thought that nothing was going to change and Uriah’s leavings were acceptable.

Nothing to do I guess, but watch, wait and count the days until Beaker leaves the building and the windows may be opened to allow some fresh air into the place.

Toot toot.

RE: Of Mandarins & Minions. - thorn bird - 06-15-2016

Murky gets a Gong, "Services to the aviation industry"!!! Yeah right "Delusions of grandeur” would be a more apt description. He’s served nobody except his political masters, least of all the “Public” and he IS a public servant, unlike the pseudo versions that inhabit our industry wrecking ball trio of institutions he controls.

Beaker next in line?? Well look at the gibbering clown and his half-witted mate signing away whatever illusion there was left that we had an independent safety investigator.

The grubby trio of CAsA, ASA and the ATSB looking after their own self-interests at the expense of probity.

If gongs are to be awarded on the basis of failure he should have ten of them by now!!!

Over on UP Dick Smith draws our attention to the UK version of the AOPA. Seems the Poms have been struggling with very similar issues as us via the “European disunion or maybe delusion”.

Quote:"I saw this thread in relation to the UK AOPA on PPRuNe, I thought it makes interesting reading for Australian AOPA members. As you can see the vast majority of members in the UK think it is well worth being a member, and they also refer to the big problems with EASA. Once again, the costs just keep increasing. I must find out how the AOPA in the UK kept their simple instrument rating against EASA objections.

for more information see link here http://www.pprune.org/private-flying/557016-aopa-uk-renew-not.html"

Very interesting reading.

Isn’t it incredible the parallels between the UK and Australia.

Rampant, unaccountable and completely ineffective overregulation in both countries decimating once productive industries.

The tragedy is the apparent arrogant pig headed blind ignorance of the regulators, on both sides of the world of the effect their efforts have on the very industry they rely on for their existence.

Churning out inane regulations in pursuit of that Mystical undefinable thing called safety, yet choosing to completely ignore what should be so blindingly obvious.

The end result of their efforts diminishes the viability of those they regulate by needlessly driving up costs which in turn patently discourages participation.

Blind Freddie could see that over the past decade or so the rise of the regulators has correspondingly resulted in the decline of the regulated. Overregulation is ultimately self-defeating.

As Dick has said so many times over the years regulation must be affordable, there must be a balance between safety and affordability. Other jurisdiction’s in the world manage this with risk based, simple, plain English rules and still achieve better safety outcomes.

The unfortunate tragedy for our industry in Australia is those that regulate arrogantly ignore world best practice and the advice of the industry; blindly pursuing what they imagine “safety” means without any consideration of the lessons available from the rest of the world that safety can be achieved without destroying the industry in the process.

To an extent the industry itself must bear some responsibility for the parlous state it finds itself in. Apathy fragmentation and self-interest allows the regulator unchallenged freedom to run rampant over any objection or industry opinion and advice.

It has always been incredibly difficult to draw all the industry stakeholders together to present a united front to counter the regulator juggernaut, even more difficult to gain public recognition and support and thus the political will to enforce change.

The British AOPA provides a salutary lesson for us in Australia, United we rise, divided we fall and dont CAsA play the divide and rule trick so well.

We fall for it every  time.

Inflated ego's pushing own self interest serves no-one, just perpetuates the perception of a disorganised rabble.

Industries astute,informed and competent leaders drowned in a sea of petty squabbles over pedantics, while the primary issues, the ones that really matter, get lost amongst the trees of irrelevancy.

Its our own fault, when we were a vibrant growing industry we could have used our stronger voice to block the infection of our regulator with the incompetents that terrorise us today.

Unfortunately we've left it a little late, numbers have declined to the point where our voice is just a whisper, lost in the clammer of political noise. We must all start singing from the same hymn book, including the big boys if there is any chance of making ourselves heard, perhaps also ellicite the support of the US and UK associations as well, after all if aviation in Australia dies they lose a market for their products.

Following is an article which illustrates what could be if we can get ourserlves heard.

See what happens when your government supports you.

Another New Zealand success story perhaps?

Quote:..The Irish government and the Irish civil aviation authority (IAA) have adopted a more forward-thinking orientation on aviation than most of their, often much larger, counterparts in Europe.

The policy is paying off — big time. Ireland is one of the smallest countries in Europe, with just 4.6 million inhabitants, yet about half of the world’s leased aircraft are registered in the country and the world’s first duty-free shop was established here. It is also home to Europe’s largest airline by passenger count and the world’s largest airline in terms of international enplanements: Ryanair.

Aviation executives in Ireland commonly joke that it took an Irishman to get International Airlines Group (IAG) off the ground and grow it into an agile, profitable and diversified airline group: IAG CEO Willie Walsh, born in Dublin and a former Aer Lingus CEO.
Aviation is central and strategic to the Irish economy, IAA CEO Eamonn Brennan noted.

“We live on an island; we don’t even have bridges. This is a key thing.” Aviation contributes just over €4 billion ($4.3 billion) directly to the Irish GDP, comprising €1.9 billion from aviation, €1.3 billion through the supply chain and €0.9 billion from associated spending by people employed in aviation.

It supports 26,000 jobs directly and a further 16,000 in the supply chain. Ireland’s tourism industry, which is dependent on aviation, accounts for another €5.3-billion GDP contribution and 180,000 jobs.

The Irish government has earmarked aviation—along with information technology and the pharmaceutical industry—as high-value sectors to the Irish economy. It launched a new aviation policy in 2015, after two years of consultation. “This government policy says that we have to make the industry more competitive and innovative.

The global aviation industry continues to expand and is estimated to double over the next 20 years. This presents opportunities for Ireland in virtually every area of aviation such as airlines, pilot training services, satellite-based air traffic control services and aircraft leasing services,” Brennan said.

Aer Lingus CEO Stephen Kavanagh told the Executive Report that Ireland’s embracing of deregulation and liberalizing access had paid off.

“It’s a very small economy in the global context, but it’s a very open economy, one of the most open economies and on a par with Singapore,” he said.

“Ireland has recognized the requirement for connectivity and, as an island, sees that air transportation is how that’s delivered. We have very strong indigenous competition with Ryanair, but there’s the ability for us to compete not only in the Irish market but also across the Atlantic and in Europe. Deregulation has allowed us to grow scale.

Deregulation, competition and liberalization have brought out the very best in terms of behaviors and competitive response. We’re efficient, we’re focused on returns, and the Irish economy has benefited and the consumer has benefited.”

Kavanagh also believes competition reaps its own rewards. “Competitiveness has fostered demand,” he said. “We see a higher propensity to travel than in most other nations and that’s because we’ve created an opportunity for competitive airfares.

“We are one of the two largest Irish airlines, but there are others and the aviation eco-system, including airlines, lessors, MROs and travel technologists, has prospered because it’s been open to competition. To remain relevant, we have to remain competitive and everyone has reaped the benefits.”

IATA DG & CEO Tony Tyler told the Executive Report, “the Irish government has taken a very pro-aviation strategy for some years now,” pointing out that the country reduced its departure tax to zero in 2014. With the growth and planned second runway at Dublin Airport, there are “clearly signs that the tax policy is bearing fruit and near neighbours should take note,” Tyler said.

Irish Transport Minister Shane Ross is scheduled to speak during the AGM’s opening sessions on Thursday morning.


RE: Of Mandarins & Minions. - Kharon - 06-16-2016

Remarkable.

That’s a Choc Frog post Thorny; thanks for putting up the ‘Irish’ article, just about says it all. But it’s a bung twister ain’t it.. Cheers me up no end to hear tales of aviation reaching it’s potential under sane government policy which realises the benefits of a thriving industry – any industry; then I look at the Australian situation and the pleasure vanishes. Here we sit while the tiger team spoon feed the government a load of old cobblers, which they swallow. The heart breaker is when you think about dazzling, dancing Darren, the selfie king even hearing the calls for reform, let alone having the brains to make it happen, the dark clouds roll in.

Aye; abandon all hope, ye who enter here. – I wonder how the Irish are fixed for drivers – airframe?

RE: Of Mandarins & Minions. - Peetwo - 06-21-2016

RTR (red tape reduction): The forgotten Coalition government policy- why? 

Forwarded to me from cranky... Wink : The $176 billion tax on our prosperity
Quote:Executive Summary

The economic cost of red tape in Australia is estimated at $176 billion per annum, or 11 per cent of GDP.

Red tape costs translate into $19,300 for each household in this country.

The economic costs of red tape (11 per cent of GDP) exceed the size of the Australian agriculture and mining sectors put together (nine per cent of GDP), and is almost double the manufacturing sector (six per cent of GDP).

Red tape costs ($176 billion pa) vastly exceed the costs of major Australian taxes – including personal income tax ($166 billion in 2013-14), company tax ($71 billion), the GST ($56 billion) and payroll tax ($21 billion).

The costs of red tape to the Australian economy also exceeds major items of government spending, such as social security and welfare ($156 billion in 2013-14), health care ($106 billion), education ($81 billion) and defence ($22 billion).

Recent estimates of red tape costs produced by the federal government understate the economic costs of red tape by a wide margin.

The Annual Deregulation Report series ignores state-local government compliance costs and the non-compliance costs of federal, state and local red tape, while the survey methodology used by the government is potentially dubious.

Given the scale of these red tape cost estimates, governments at all levels should reinvigorate deregulation and red tape reductions to promote future economic growth and productivity.

And also from cranky, a quote from Gina Rinehart asking the question?? 
Quote:Mining magnate Gina Rinehart says Australian politicians don't "have the guts" to tackle government spending.

Ms Rinehart said the cost of government was growing rapidly and this issue has been overlooked in the election campaign.

"There is one giant cost slab that isn't decreasing: government," Ms Rinehart told the Saturday Telegraph.

Ms Rinehart also took aim at the level of government red tape which needs to be overcome for developments.

She says her $10 billion iron ore project at Roy Hill has been slowed down by the around 400 government approvals needed.

"India has the guts to do what it's doing to cut at least federal red tape, with the consequent immense benefits to its people, driving INVESTMENT, jobs, economic growth and living standards - why can't Australia?" she said.

It has always intrigued me how many government departments & agencies proactively engaged in the previous Abbott led government policy of RTR with much documented savings made.

However CASA seemingly escaped any real scrutiny in their $300+million , 28+year RRP that has created voluminous, largely unusable, unreadable and now outdated regulations. These basically useless regulations create a huge red tape impost on industry for little to no recognisable safety benefit, while slowly strangling the substantial economic benefits of a vital industry. 

How & why are Murky Mandarin & the CASA Iron Ring able to get away with this travesty?


MTF...P2 Tongue

RE: Of Mandarins & Minions. - Peetwo - 07-05-2016

The plusses & minuses of a hung Parliament?

The following is an article from the ever informative Mandarin that puts forward the possible advantages of dealing with certain members of the future HoR crossbench, in particular Cathy McGowan & Xenophon's NXT party ... Wink :
Quote:Minority government: public sector policies that can woo independent MPs

  [Image: victorian-border-360x203.jpg]

As the Australian Electoral Commission resumes counting postal and out-of-jurisdiction ballots, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull could either reach a tiny majority or try to form a minority government — depending on what policy compromises that entails.

At this point the Coalition is confident of winning 75 or 76 seats, right on the margin between governing alone and needing to court the vote of at least one non-government member.

Past comments from the Prime Minister and other members of the Liberal and National parties suggest they would send the nation back to the polls rather than make any significant compromise to secure the minimum cross-bench support to pass supply bills and defeat any no-confidence vote.

If he does form minority government, two members Turnbull might look to are independent Cathy McGowan and the Nick Xenophon Team’s Rebekha Sharkie, who ousted the Coalition’s Jamie Briggs from the Adelaide seat of Mayo.

Cross-border commissioner to work with state bureaucracies

McGowan proposes a cross-border commissioner and if the swing against the government coupled with her own strengthened majority puts her in a position to make demands, it’s not out of the question that such a role could eventuate.

McGowan’s idea sounds like something the Coalition could support, as a measure that is focused on cutting red tape for businesses in population centres that sprawl across state boundaries, and she has been lobbying for it since before the election.

The Member for Indi’s proposed cross-border commissioner aims to assist the Albury-Wodonga area she represents, but would also find at least some support in other places dealing with similar issues like Tweed Heads and Coolangatta.

It would be an interesting exercise in federal relations for an independent federal body, as McGowan envisages it, to start working with state governments and regulatory bodies on issues of mutual recognition.

For builders in her area, McGowan said the big red tape problems were “home warranty insurance duplication, multiple license categories and the need for mutual recognition for tradespeople and contractors”.

She has taken up the cause of the builders who want to fill out just one form for both Victoria and New South Wales agencies, like they used to.

“The introduction of a number of licenses and regulations that take into account working across state boundaries would help get rid of red tape,” McGowan said, pointing to transport operators and alcohol retailers as other examples of businesses that struggle from cross-border issues.

(Extremely) slim chance of federal ICAC

Xenophon’s team supports the creation of a federal ICAC among a set of accountability reforms, but The Saturday Paper reports the independent senator has ruled out making it a condition of support for supply.

NXT also stands a chance of another South Australian seat, Grey, where the count so far shows Liberal incumbent Rowan Ramsey with a precarious lead over the new minor party’s candidate Andrea Broadfoot. If NXT did pull of a surprise win in a second seat, Turnbull might see in them the possibility of securing two votes on the cross-benches from a single negotiation.

But the Xenophon team opposes a lot of what Turnbull’s team have been trying to get through parliament since 2013, so there is a lot of grounds for disagreement that could make any deal difficult.

And any potential kingmaker considering the merits of voting Turnbull back into power could well find that demanding a federal anti-corruption body is a deal-breaker for the Coalition, which has resolutely maintained its opposition to the idea. If the Liberal or National parties harbour any federal ICAC sympathisers, they are much better hidden than in the ALP.

Along with “establish a national anti-corruption commission” and push for more “timely and transparent” reporting of politicians’ entitlements, there’s a few other items on NXT’s government accountability to-do list.

The Public Interest Disclosure Scheme isn’t enough, according to NXT; whistleblower legislation “that protects the informant and compensates them for any loss of income due to their actions” is required.

NXT also stands on a belief that government services from any tier of government “must be delivered quickly and efficiently and be fully accountable to the public” and it is among those who want to take a serious look at reforming the federation with an eye to reducing “duplicated services” across the three levels.

Wildcards and outside chances

Neither Greens MP Adam Bandt, returned in the seat of Melbourne, nor Tasmanian independent Andrew Wilkie will make a deal with the Coalition. There’s more chance that North Queensland MP Bob Katter could be persuaded to back Turnbull, but he remains a wildcard as always.

There is also a much smaller chance of Labor forming a minority government, in which the Greens and NXT might play a role and make a federal anti-corruption body a real possibility. But just like the Coalition, Labor has steadfastly claimed they would not make any cross-bench deals to get into government throughout the campaign — and it would almost certainly take significant policy compromises to get them over the line this time.

There is certainly more support for the idea within the ALP than in the Coalition, even though a federal ICAC has not made it onto either party’s agreed policy platform.
On the eve of the election, ALP leader Bill Shorten agreed to support the continuation of the recent Senate inquiry into the need for some of form of national integrity commission, which was cut short by the double dissolution of parliament and only happened in the first place due to Labor’s blessing.

Issues like public sector integrity, accountability and transparency are much more commonly pushed by the major parties when they find themselves in opposition. But in an unlikely situation of Labor forming minority government, the influence of the cross-bench parties could well propel a national anti-corruption commission to the fore.

MTF...P2 Tongue

Ps. There is a rumour going around that NX is so determined to proactively advocate for aviation industry issues, in particular the reform of CASA & it's draconian dinosaur approach to the RRP, that he is currently in the hunt for two aviation advisers to help him implement his aviation policy principles program - if true perhaps the BRB could help NX out and convene a meeting to discuss worthy candidates, just saying?? Rolleyes

RE: Of Mandarins & Minions. - Gobbledock - 07-05-2016

Just look for the wank words.....

So Beaker and Electric Blue get together one last time, looking like a pair of Kansas City faggots, to sign off on a load of pony pooh? I have a better idea, let's play 'wank word' in which you, the viewer, get to join in the game of spin and pick the bureaucratic bullshit lingo! I will give you a hand - look for the bolded words!

Dumb and dumber;

"Airservices CEO Jason Harfield signed the MoU alongside outgoing ATSB Chief Commissioner Martin Dolan on 9 June to "enhance aviation safety and reaffirm the cooperation between the agencies."

According to Airservices, one objective of the MoU is to "maximise aviation safety outcomes by providing a framework for both organisations to effectively continue their separate but complementary safety functions without impediment.

"The MoU was revised following an extensive quality assurance review to simplify cross-agency accountabilities associated with the retention of evidential material and the conduct of interviews of Airservices officers involved in a matter that the ATSB is investigating."

Both Airservices and the ATSB are required to disclose information during an investigation, and the MoU also makes sure those obligations are stated clearly and in alignment with current agreements".

Great work boys!! They must have been so excited by that wording that they ended up playing with each other's willies?


"Safe mi mi mi for all"

RE: Of Mandarins & Minions. - Kharon - 07-06-2016

Cooperation or Collusion?

I wonder, at what point does ‘cooperation’ between agencies become ‘collusion’’?  Even if it could be defined as collusion the question of that being for the greater good must be addressed.

The result of an accident or incident investigation should (IMO) be that there is a tangible, positive outcome which reduces the percentage chances of a repeat; otherwise the ‘investigation’ is for naught i.e. pointless, in purist terms.

You could, at a pinch accept that there should be a degree of ‘cooperation’ between the ASA, ATSB and CASA, although many believe even that should be prohibited.  There seems to be agreement that ‘basic’ information should be exchanged insofar as there would be detail on record within the bowels of 'the agencies' which ATSB would righteously require to complete their report.  There needs to be safeguards in there, but a MoU could be used to define just how ‘deep’ ATSB can dig. But, does an IIC needs to have a clear picture of the company/agency background, based solely on agency say-so?  Many believe not.  In fact many believe the converse is true and the IIC should be restricted to reviewing only the evidence discovered during the investigation to prevent external bias subconsciously infecting the without fear or favour result.

The need for true independence become apparent where a report on an incident involves the CASA, BoM, ASA and company name.  Mildura, Pel-Air are two examples; every agency and the companies were involved, up to their hocks in the end result. This where the cosy, informal arrangements and the cleverly drafted MoU begin to reek of ‘collusion’. Once another agency has been identified as part of the investigation, included in the causal chain; that is where the MoU should become null and void.  In both the Norfolk and Mildura events, the BoM and ASA were implicated, as they are in many other investigations; as they must be, every flight requires their services.  Report after report emerges where the systematic and human faults of the sister agencies are exposed, then simply glossed over, as a matter of mutual understanding.

For example; it is of concern that ATSB have allowed ASA to take a lead role in many investigations of ASA: the ‘SHEED’ related incidents and LAHSO being classic; all at Melbourne and yet nothing of substance or value has come out the ‘inquiry’ – except everyone is still mates and they have the warm, fuzzy feeling of top cover being legally provided through the MoU.

I could go on, ad infinitum, ad nauseum, the examples are numerous.  The message crystal clear. In principal the basic MoU is a must have document, placed in the hands of men of honour and good intention it serves to remove the barriers to access of ‘privileged’ information essential to open investigation of accident.  But is this what we have?

I say the system has been perverted; corrupted to the point where the MoU is a tool used to cover the many shortcomings within the ‘safety network’ agencies. A get out of jail free card that ‘legally’ allows collusion on a pre-determined outcome, which keeps ‘sister’ agencies out of the firing line.  Thus, CASA become faultless; BoM beyond reproach, ASA unimpeachable, companies walk away from the mess left behind and no one can lay a glove on the minister technically responsible.  Everyone’s rear end well covered, except that of the poor, criminally liable mutt sitting at the pointy end of the death tube, hell bent on killing them all.

Not right, howls the mob.  Bollocks: re read your Pel-Air (or your own personal favourite ‘investigation’, they all work).

Method of Understanding  - our point of view;
Mendacity of Understatement.
Manipulation of Undeniable.
Massage of Unpalatable.
Massacre of the Unsuspecting.
Millions of Ure money.

Aye - MoU to you too.

RE: Of Mandarins & Minions. - Peetwo - 07-08-2016

From the heart - For & on behalf of Ben Morgan via the Oz  Wink

Quote:Ministers must act now to cut aviation red tape

  • Benjamin Morgan
  • The Australian
  • 12:00AM July 8, 2016
It is time for the major political parties to sit down, listen and act.

As an aviation business owner and industry leader, I have become disillusioned with the quagmire of unnecessary bureaucracy and regulation that is suffocating general aviation and sending it bankrupt.

And I have become disillusioned by the lack of any serious political leadership shown on the issues that are affecting us so greatly.

On May 6, I organised an aviation rally at Tamworth Regional Airport to highlight the desperate state of our industry and to call on Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and Infrastructure and Regional Development Minister Darren Chester to take action.

At the conclusion of that rally, the ministers invited the industry to meet in Canberra to discuss the issues. However, away from the cameras and the media, both declined to attend that meeting. Rather, industry was relegated to dealing with bureaucrats from the Department of Transport and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, both of which are responsible for the present precarious state of our industry.

The meeting in Canberra simply confirmed our concerns: that our sector is governed by a department and a regulator that are deeply disconnected from the realities and challenges facing general aviation. For too long, successive governments have been content to rely on the CASA and its associated agencies. This is fine for government but abrogating ministerial responsibility has allowed agencies, particularly the CASA, to run unchecked.

Ministers have sat on their hands and turned a blind eye to the outrageous cost of regulatory reform. It has been estimated that more than $300 million of taxpayer money has been spent over the past three decades on yet-to-be-completed aviation regulatory reform.

The industry is in open rebellion against the impractical, overly-prescriptive, incomprehensible rule set, especially rules that relate to aircraft maintenance, pilot fatigue and licensing.

More than ever our industry requires a strong and clear political intervention to end the bureaucratic nightmare.

It is time the major political parties sat down with industry and formed a serious partnership to tackle the issues facing aviation. It is time government worked towards reforming the regulatory frameworks to ensure Australians have opportunity in front of them, not behind.

Benjamin Morgan is a director of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and the chief executive of the Aviation Advertiser, an aircraft sales and marketing service used by more than 94,000 aircraft owners across the country


RE: Of Mandarins & Minions. - Peetwo - 07-09-2016

From little to big, industry concerns remain the same. - Dodgy  

Remember this bit of a vent from Scott McMillan, CEO of Alliance Airlines, back in March??

(03-03-2016, 08:21 PM)Peetwo Wrote:  RAAA member, Alliance Airlines  - In a Flight Global article published today, Alliance Airlines tells a few home truths about today's Skidmore led CASA  Confused

Quote:Alliance Airlines considering switch to NZ AOC

03 March, 2016
 | BY: Ellis Taylor
 | Brisbane 


McMillan says that despite approaches by Alliance and other operators to CASA asking it to take a cost-benefit approach to the unique retrofit, but got no joy.

“[CASA] bureaucrats will say, ‘how good are we!’ But at what cost and what benefit?”

“Obviously safety is first,” says McMIllan. “If you bring in an FRMS and it tells you certain things, you’ve got to do it, but you’ve also got to win on the upside.”


He points out that New Zealand allows more flexibility with pilot rostering and fatigue management than the proposed Australian rules, making it appealing to switch jurisdictions.


“A pilot with a New Zealand license can fly with much greater flexibility already than an Australian one – and we’re going to make it less flexible,” says McMillan.


“We are seriously considering moving our whole operation to a New Zealand air operator’s certificate. We satisfy almost all the requirements already.”
Ouch, not a good look Skates old son  Dodgy

Well apparently he had a lot more to say on the record with the Aviation Business Mag in their May/June edition - see HERE - examples:
Quote:"No-one could run a commercial enterprise like CASA," he vented.

"The regulatory reform process is a euphemism for a shambles.

"On September 26 it will be 30 years since the commencement of these regulations and we are not even halfway there."

McMillan considered many of the DRAFT regulations "just nonsensical".

He said Australian aviation was a safe industry, but there were too many staff at CASA proposing too many regulations.

"CASA wants to be the aviation guns of the world and Australianise every regulation in the book," he said.

"Every country surrounding Australia has a set of regulations that are almost identical to ours and work so why change them?"

"In New Zealand a regulation will be 3 to 4 pages whereas in Australia it can 70 to 80 pages and the can be open to interpretation in several ways."

McMillan considered a lot of the regulations were "just change for the sake of change."

"Part 61 relating to crew licensing was a total disaster by CASA's own admission," he said.

P2 comment - Refer to the following link for the latest on the continuing shambolic saga of Part 61, that will now go down as Skidmore's draconian legacy to industry: AMROBA v Skidmore Part 61 - UDB!

Quote:Kharon - "..Part 61 now has so many necessary exemptions as to render it farcical, it is no longer a law, but a crippled vehicle which the owners must keep repairing to salve their egos..."  

For reference - HERE - is the link for all the work done and in progress initiated by Oliver's Part 61 Tiger Team. Within that there is an additional link - HERE - which takes you to a page of 'legislative instruments' that have been introduced since the original Part 61 first became law on 01 September 2014.

Now in reference to the "K" post here is the latest list of exemptions put in place to address the shortcomings and industry imposts identified so far within the Bible sized CASA Part 61... [Image: dodgy.gif] :
Quote: Wrote:Exemptions

 Simply staggering when you consider that the above only includes the 'exemptions' so far and none of the additional pages of related amendments that also require more & more legislative instruments to be generated and tabled in parliament. The Attorney General's department must have a separate section totally devoted to handling CASA generated legislative instruments - UDB! [Image: dodgy.gif]

 Kind of makes you question the veracity of Skidmore's 10 point regulatory philosophy - Huh

However KC in the latest AMROBA newsletter - Volume 13 Issue 6 (0616) - appears to have faith that industry will be able to hold Skidmore and the CASA Iron Ring to account if they fall back on their word:

Quote:...Implementing regulations that enable businesses to operate to modern business practices and technology. If it adds costs, it must value add to safety.

No evidence that it value adds to safety then it should not be implemented.

CASA supports this approach, DAS Skidmore has documented the policy for development of requirements. We are supportive and we expect his staff to follow the policy.

Directly supervised small businesses don’t need documented procedures if the requirements are well documented by the regulator...

Hmm...time will tell I guess, in the meantime..

"..Round and round the Mulberry bush...?? Undecided


MTF...P2 Tongue

RE: Of Mandarins & Minions. - Gobbledock - 07-09-2016

NZ, beam me over Scotty!!

Scott is spot on. The over-regulation by the inept CAsA has, is and continues to destroy the industry. The key problem is the word 'accountability'. When you make a person, or an organisation not accountable for their actions and you give them full immunity, you have a problem. They will do as they want, when they want, how they want.

Scott McMillan as an airline CEO under law has accountabilites. Accountable for safety, accountable as a leader, accountable to share holders, accountable every time he passes wind in public!
But CAsA? Who is accountable for screwing up the regulations? Who is held accountable for the decision to bully people into submission? Who is held to account for making incorrect decisions, pissing away $300m of taxpayer money, strangling business and impacting the economy?

See my point, without accountability those who are gifted with immunity really don't care about what they do because they won't be held responsible or accountable. On the other hand if one of Scottys Gingerbeers gets sucked into an F100 turbine, or Scotty pockets a bag of cash from a parts supplier he gets to vist Hotel Longbay for 10 years.

The industry, and society in general, have had a gutful of the double standards where politicians, their mandarins and bureaucrats can act with impunity while everyone else has to abide my sets of rules and laws.

You can only push people so far. Tick tock comes the revolution!! Viva Alliance...

RE: Of Mandarins & Minions. - crankybastards - 07-09-2016

Spurred on by NSW shutting down the Greyhound racing industry, CasA today
announced their intention to shut down General Aviation in Australia.

The announcement was greeted with feigned understanding after CasA official, Rodger
Chamberpot, admitted millions of dollars had been spent on regulatory reform and, put
quiet simply, the industry is not capable of reform in the short to medium term.

Field Marshall Skippan said more government funds are needed for him to achieve his stated aims and superannuation expectation which correspond with senior bureaucrats who are paid substantially more than him and he emphasized, “safety is paramount”.

The ATsB concurred with the sentiment and added more funds are required to further
investigations into the disappearance of the Marie Celeste which, despite all efforts had
resulted in encouraging results.

CasA Spokesperson Air Marshall Gibbo, DCM, (don’t come Monday), and Bar, emphatically concurred to the level of his pay scale.

The Greyhound and General Aviation fraternity today admitted their willingness to
provide as much encouragement as is needed to help with any retirement aspirations of
politicians and bureaucrats and placed their faith firmly in the hands of the disgruntled
Military who are possibly plotting a coup and have a willingness to change; starting with
the integrated pansy waving fifth column.

RE: Of Mandarins & Minions. - Gobbledock - 07-09-2016

'Viva IOS'

Further to Herr Cranky's response;

The Gobbledock has just this evening completed an audit of the Houseboats safety management system. It was a robust audit which revealed no non-conformances. The audit of the Houseboats SMS was performed against the 'French Revolution best practise template. One 'observation' was recommended;

Commencing in 2017 it is recommended that the IOS support the ascent of Reverend Forsthe. During this period, IOS are encouraged to redesign their industry's regulatory landscape, uprooting centuries-old regulations such as the Orwellian and morphed Part 61 and the laughable Pilot CVD rules. Just like the recent truck drivers revolution, the aviation revolution shall be influenced by workable regulations, particularly the concepts of having individual complex rules limited to a mere 5 pages in length.

Furthermore, all IOS shall be empowered to make personal decisions regarding the colour of their flight bag, brand of pilot socks to be worn and whether they eat chicken or ham sandwiches during their afternoon flights. CAsA will no longer regulate those important items

Finally, the IOS shall also be granted popular sovereignty and inalienable rights. Although it failed to achieve all of its goals and at times degenerated into a chaotic bloodbath during the McComic era, the IOS shall play a critical role in shaping modern regulations by showing the world the power inherent in the will of Australia's aviation people.

"Safe regulatory overthrow for all"

RE: Of Mandarins & Minions. - Kharon - 07-13-2016

Jobs for the boys.

It’s all Thorny’s fault, he kicked it off. It was a light hearted sally, fired off during a serious discussion; and, I do mean serious, related to the almost unbelievable embuggerance of one of PAIN’s finest.  “Well” drawls Thorny (lampshade slightly askew) “even if they could nail the bastard ‘who-dun-it’, they’d never, not in a million, fire the rotten sod”.  The truth of this statement sort of quieted thing’s down for a moment; then.  “They could find him another important job though” say’s Thorny, quiet like, (sotto voce).  “What, like they did for Libby and Wodger, but they were McConvict protected catamites”; this from the other end of the table.

“Nah” says Thorny; after another quarter pint found it’s way down the tubes, then: “they’ll evaluate his qualifications for the job he holds against the job he aught to have; but it will have to be at executive level”.  And so it began; the search for suitable employment opportunities for those lucky few on the IOS pin up board.

Anger Evaluator – Non management.  It has come to the attention of upper executive management that there is a small amount of hostility toward the administration.  The new position involves meeting and greeting the few disgruntled complainants that actually dare to enter the CASA office facilities.  The main focus of this job is to set them straight; plain talking, tell them how bloody marvellous CASA is and how they need to shape up or ship out. Remuneration is modest, however there is a very good medical scheme available through Avmed; and a bonus system, based on results.  General facial injuries, such as a black-eye, blood nose or tender jaw are worth 10 points on the bonus scheme; getting sat on your fat arse earns 20 bonus points and a night under observation in hospital is worth a whopping 50 points.  This is a job for a people person; login now to apply.

Executive Washroom attendant.  Non management. This is an opportunity with great potential for advancement.  The ‘Authorities’ executive suffer high levels of stress; usually brought on by having to actually do something and the EW is a place they can go to escape the pressures.  The presence of a discreet sycophant is considered essential to perform, without demure, the lowly humble tasks required to ease their burden. In a nutshell, you will be required change your pants before being kicked in the arse – lest you soil their expensive boots.  Many of the top layer of executives began their stellar careers in this role.  This the job for an ambitious, devious, unscrupulous, get a head at any cost type; login to apply.

Chief pencil sharpener – Management.  The ‘Authority’ has a large contingent of dedicated, skilled craftsmen who’s sole employment is keeping the pencils sharp and, time permitting, making long chains out of paperclips.  There has been a need identified, through in depth, independent research and consultation for a supervisor to ensure that every pencil meets the sharpness prescription and is not less than the minimum, legally allowed length and that the paperclip supply is properly audited.  If you feel you can rise to this challenge, login to apply and join our team making the skies safer for all.

Boot Licker – Executive level.  This sought after position provides access to the top levels of executive management.  Multi tasking is considered an essential.  You may be required to not only lick boots and slobber at the ‘elite’ feet, but kiss ass, toady and provide a lowly, humble presence to enable deflated ego to be quickly and fully restored.  Are you capable of rising to this demanding, challenging role? Login now to apply.

The basic skills test for all applicants is being able to actually log-on to our world famous webshite.

Aye; twas a funny enough interlude – probably something to do with the ring of truth and many a true word being spoken in jest.  I’ll leave the details up to your imagination; the potted version above are censored, to protect the innocent.

Toot toot. E&OE (tempus fugit).