[ventus45]

Interesting rumor - if true.

The "time-line" is "critical" here.

Being a sceptical ex-public-servant myself (left in June 2000) I suspect that the draft is just another "Whitewash Mk-2", which was deliberately drafted as such, in the "full knowledge and expectation", that one or more of the DIP(s) would "reject".

It is a time honoured administrative technique (which fits very well - when you "consider" the "resume" of the Chief Commissioner) for "delaying" or "pushing to the right" any "unpleasant business".

The usual reasons for doing so being either to :-
(a) "pass the bowl of poo" to your unfortunate departmental replacement, or
(b) "pass the bowl of poo" to the next minister, or indeed "government".

It all depends where the "driver for delay" is, in other words, where the "potential - probable - inevitable" HURT will be felt "when the music stops".

So, if the "driver" is "political", it will be (b). If the "driver" is "departmental" (ATSB and/or CASA) it will be (a).

So, I wonder, - which (one or more) of the various "DIP(s)" have "rejected", and "why" ?

The "who(s)", might be more telling of the "hidden reasons", than the most probabe and "obvious" public why(s).

In any case, the delay will now clearly push the "time-line to the right", in accordance with the plan, i.e. beyond:-
(a-i) the current Parliament (essential)
(a-ii) the current SENATORS (crucial objective for the Chief Commissioner)
(a-iii) the current Minister
(b) the Election,
(c-i) the end of the MH-370 sarch, ("most crucial" objective for the Chief Commissioner, for he can then "retire"),
(c-ii) the departure (retirement, rather than dismissal) of the present Chief Commissioner.

So, in short, nothing new or unexpected.

Indeed, as I posted months ago, with minor variations (perhaps), things are going "quite as expected" at this keyboard.