[Peetwo]

DDDD_MNFI's aviation induced PED, keeps on ticking -    (PED - political explosive device)

Reference new thread - The Mt Isa Snakes and ladders championship.

A Grim Faery tale.
 
CASA – “The spokeswoman said CASA needed to have evidence to act on, rather than unsubstantiated claims of actions.”
 
Since when? Don’t know about you, but, it seems to me that CASA is now challenging the Qld police ‘evidence’, in a bid to exonerate themselves by describing the police evidence as ‘unsubstantiated’.  Just a little hypocritical I would say; coming from a crowd who are famous for ‘massaging’ fact and parlaying any and all clerical error into fraud and breaking wind into a ‘public at risk’ scenario – when it suits. This is going to end up farcical – CASA defending the accused in order to prove – beyond reasonable doubt – that as far as CASA was concerned, there is no case that would require CASA investigation. Watch, wait and see as the CASA defence of CASA assists the defence argument – hell they’ll probably pay the accused legal fees. “Unduckingbelievable” not in my jungle it’s not.
 
CASA - “It is important to remember that, like any other regulatory authority, CASA is only able to act on evidence that tends to show there has been a breach of the regulations, not on unsubstantiated claims of such conduct,” she said.
 
Bollocks – complete and utter BOLLOCKS. With two clicks of my mouse I can put on screen a file which is some 48 pages long – close spaced – they are my notes on cases where CASA have done exactly and precisely that. Many of those cases are based on the ‘unsubstantiated’ manipulated into a frame work which ‘supports’ the claims of ‘wrong doing’, individually they are something nothing – but all together; they unsettle the tribunal, coroner or judge. The masters of the rigged game – crying “Foul”. It beggars belief.
 
CASA - “It would be premature for CASA to comment further on this at this time.
 
“You have the right to remain silent”.  The only sounds in Sleepy Hollow will be the clatter of garbage bin lids being locked down tight and the pitter-patter of CASA feet as they change shifts, taking turns to sit on the lids. This accompanied by the whirring of shedders - flat out.
 
CASA - “We will not comment on the criminal allegations against Mr Hoch.”
 
A classic – no one can, that is a known fact; but the unscrupulous CASA will even stoop to using the blindingly obvious to make themselves sound honourable, just and fair. The spin cycle is starting its wind up to full RPM, cobbed throttles and all hands on deck.
 
CASA – “These are matters before the court and any questions should be directed to the prosecutorial authority.”
 
Oh, ain’t we as pure as the driven snow, holier than thou and so ducking humble.  You know, I could, probably, find a modicum of forgiveness in my heart and mind for Hoch - should he be proven guilty – and; mind you we don’t know that he is guilty; and, he is entitled to defend himself against the charges. So that is a waiting game. But there is no such consideration available for the CASA, the Hoch case presents an unique window of opportunity to allow the minister and the RRAT to view exactly how this ‘safety watchdog’ acts; after dark, when even the best of working dogs turn into sheep killers.
 
If Chester had a brain in his head or some decent advice – he would have known that this was coming. The only folk surprised were him and the brainless, uninformed media. The smell has been on the wind for weeks. It is a testament to the complete absence of interest, a dependency on ‘mandarins’ and a complete lack of thinking apparatus that has landed Chester up to his neck in a deep pile of shit. “Prove it” howls the mob. “Well, says I, “who has Chester asked to investigate the event?” 
 
Aye, but: GD, I don’t want Carmody to resign, not now. The slick, glib, slippery bugger is a master of the ‘get out goal free card’ and the ‘off hook’ wriggle move.  No doubt the minister will be ‘delighted’ to continue working on 'CASA' flawless advice.

Toot toot.

And then another media report that could be potentially the most politically disconcerting for our immaculately groomed NFI miniscule 4D...  

Reference via  Kathryn's Report - Call for urgent report on pilot Josh Hoch :

Kennedy MP Bob Katter spent $257,000 on chartered flights with alleged fraudster pilot Josh Hoch, the Mount Isa Magistrates Court was told.

Hundreds of thousands in taxpayer dollars may have been paid to alleged fraudster Josh Hoch, with a court hearing Kennedy MP spent $257,000 on chartered flights with the pilot.

Prosecutor Sergeant Vaughan Cooper yesterday detailed Mr. Katter’s expenses with Mr. Hoch, at his bail application for more than 300 offenses.

“The offenses the defendant faces are serious, not only those five offences (tampering with aircraft), but also the offenses of fraud,” Sgt Cooper said.

“Your honor will note the defendant using, without accreditation, aircraft to fly the honourable Bob Katter without the correct accreditation.

“Allowing him to pilot and receive payment for these charters and that will be alleged your honour is some $257,000 and I do round that down.

“The case against the defendant regarding those matters is strong.”

According to documents from the Department of Finance, Mr Katter claimed more than $53,000 on chartered flights in the first half of 2016 alone.

The Kennedy MP is given a large travel allowance, particularly for charter flights, to traverse a massive electorate that is bigger than some countries.

Mr. Katter would not comment when contacted by the Bulletin over the charges against Koch.

“As this matter is now before the courts it would be inappropriate to comment,” he said.

Senator Ian Macdonald said he would take up industry regulation concerns with Infrastructure and Transport Minister Darren Chester.

“I will certainly be following this up with the Transport Minister … I’m quite confident he has already been briefed but this is clearly a matter for the police and CASA investigators to report to him with any recommendations of any new regulatory action,” he said.

“I’m very curious in this instance how this has not come to their attention previously … CASA should have been leading the charge rather than police.”

Herbert MP Cathy O’Toole said it was necessary to look further into the current level of oversight after the arrest of Hoch.

“Questions need to be asked, and answers provided, about what officials did and did not know,” she said.

“How can this happen surely needs to be the question. The real issue is that we have absolutely no certainty that incidents of this nature are not falling through the gap.”

Source:  http://www.ntnews.com.au

Oh Dear 4D  - Even Blind Freddy can see the potential for political embarrassment with this one is huge.

But it is all good minuscule like all your predecessors, you just keep putting your head in the sand while Comardy and the other NFI trough-feeders at CASA continue to obfuscate and quietly destroy the crumb trail that leads to your office. All in the name of good aviation safety practices of course - FFS.

MTF...P2

Ps Bye the bye - interesting article in Simply Marvellous Horse-pooh online on 4D's work commute travel rort...err expenses... :

Two MPs run up $200,000 tab on private flights to work in Canberra



Two National Party MPs have racked up a combined bill of $200,000 chartering private flights to and from their electorates to attend sessions of Parliament in Canberra since the change of government.

Spending on jet hire to Canberra for sitting weeks is filed by the Finance Department under the little-known expense category of "special minister of state-approved" flights.

Transport Minister Darren Chester. Photo: Jamila Toderas

NSW National Mark Coulton, who represents the sprawling north-western NSW electorate of Parkes and Darren Chester, whose Victorian seat of Gippsland is 10 times smaller, are the two MPs approved to charter flights for sitting weeks.

Department of Finance records show the pair have spent $198,000 between them since the Coalition took power in 2013.
 
Mark Coulton in Parliament House. Photo: Andrew Meares

Mr Coulton has charged $137,000 on charter flights between Warialda and Canberra in that time while Mr Chester, the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, has spent $61,000 on the parliamentary commute from Gippsland, east of Melbourne.

In total, since he entered parliament in 2008, Mr Chester has spent $407,000 on charter flights but that includes air travel within Gippsland and more recently flights for ministerial visits.

Mr Coulton and a spokeswoman for Mr Chester said sitting week charter flights had been approved since Labor's Gary Gray was special minister of state in 2010 under Julia Gillard.

Mr Gray confirmed this, saying regional MPs faced "logistical difficulties" like fog at both ends of the trip in the case of Gippsland.

"My overwhelming view was that the government should ensure that MPs, who have seven-day-a-week jobs, are able to do those jobs to the best of their abilities," he said.

As federal politicians prepare to fly to Canberra for the resumption of Parliament next week, Mr Coulton said he would be chartering a flight from his home base of Warialda.

Mr Coulton who maintains three electorate offices – Dubbo, Moree and Broken Hill – said the logistics of getting commercial flights back to the electorate can be too difficult, particularly when he might be leaving from Warialda but returning to Dubbo, for example.

"I have half of NSW in my electorate and the other 47 MPs share the other half, so it does have its problems," he said.

Mr Coulton said he flies on commercial airlines where possible.

According to Webjet, an 8.40am Qantas flight from Tamworth, a little over two hours' drive from Warialda, would have him in Canberra by 11.50am after a transfer in Sydney.

The cost of that flight is $591 on a flexi ticket compared to the $3545 cost of a charter flight from Warialda.

Mr Chester's flights to and from Lakes Entrance cost between $2100 and $3150, according to the latest expense records.

He regularly posts pictures on social media of the view of Gippsland from the air.

A spokesman for Special Minister of State Scott Ryan said: "The minister does not comment on individual parliamentarians' work expenses."

Following the expenses scandal and the resignation of former health minister Sussan Ley, all claims for charter flights will now be scrutinised by an independent compliance agency announced by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull this month.

Greens leader Richard Di Natale has backed the agency but used the latest furore over the use of flights to call for the establishment of a federal anti-corruption body.