[Peetwo]

Don't mention the war? - Or OneSKY, Harfwits or Audits.

Just a bit of a ASA update...

First Harfwit has returned his AQON for the Additional Estimates (see attachment bottom of the page).

Not much to report on that front because the Harfwit was 'match fit' and overly prepared for any frontal assault...

Example: 

Senator Xenophon, Nick asked:

Senator XENOPHON: Thank you very much, Mr Harfield, for doing that. I ask you to take the questions on notice about OneSKY and the state of the contract. The report that appeared on the ABC on 15 February by the national reporting team's Benjamin Sveen and national technology reporter Jake Sturmer made a number of allegations that referred to the author of the email that you provided public interest disclosure protection to. The report says:

"There was a high level of anxiety within the leadership team and the risk and assurance team about this, but all of the issues and concerns were ignored by the change managers and executive," the Airservices executive said.

This was an executive who was quoted within the report—an unnamed executive, not the author of the email.

The article continues:

"The organisation's risk system was not and still has not been used to assess or manage risk on an ongoing basis in relation to the changes or Accelerate program."

Again, this was referred to as coming from an unnamed senior executive. You rejected those allegations as totally incorrect. The documents obtained by the ABC and FOI, and the documents we have obtained through this estimates process, make reference to it on page 96 of this committee's Senate estimates on 17 October. You said, 'For each particular change we make a determination through what we call the safety case determination' and it goes on to talk about the safety plan. But on 21 October, four days after estimates, there was a whole series of documents from Steven Angus, the executive general manager, and from Steven Grundy about a model risk assessment statement, the corporate services target operating model change risk assessment 21 October.

And from you, Mr Logan, on 21 October was another document about the finance structure and capability systems. These documents seem to be signing off on the safety case four days after. Can you explain the context, because these seem to be after the event.

Mr Harfield: Yes, I can. There is confusion about the two phases of the program. I have a document and timeline here, which I am happy to table, which set it out much more specifically.

Answer:

Please refer to Mr Harfield’s explanation on pages 136-137 of Hansard, which explains the phases of the Accelerate Program.

P2 comment: Funny how Harfwit was full, frank and friendly when it came to the Senators, while totally forgetting to mention that he had made a Hood style sook in response to the ABC report:

News Item

Airservices statement on recent ABC coverage
15 Feb 2017
Any suggestion that Airservices is compromising on safety is totally incorrect and refused. There is no risk to the travelling public.

  

  
Next on the ASA news front was that the 8 month+ vacant ASA Board position..

See answer to Sterle Corporate Services QON 92: PDF 220KB 

..has now been filled.  The tightly scripted, low key announcement of this appointment by the miniscule is IMO fascinating more for what doesn't get said than what does...

Board appointment will help Airservices Australia deliver major reforms
Media Release
DC103/2017
01 May 2017

• John Weber's appointment enhances board's legal and governance expertise
  
• Appointment timely as Airservices undertakes a major infrastructure program and replaces its air traffic management system.
  

The Australian Government has appointed John Weber to the Board of Airservices Australia for a three-year term, bolstering the authority's public sector governance and legal expertise.

Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester said Mr Weber previously worked extensively in the transport sector.

“In his previous legal roles, Mr Weber has provided advice to major Commonwealth departments, government business enterprises and the Auditor-General's Office,” Mr Chester said.

“That experience will be invaluable to the board as it continues to guide Airservices' delivery of safe and efficient air traffic and aviation rescue and fire fighting services to the industry and the community.

“Airservices is moving to replace its air traffic management system as part of a major capital expenditure program of more than $1 billion over the next five years.

“The program includes investment in critical air traffic infrastructure, facilities and services to enhance the safety, efficiency and capacity of the Australian air traffic network to meet anticipated continuing growth in the Australian aviation industry.

“Mr Weber's skills will complement the existing board members in oversighting Airservices delivery of this program.”

  
Hmm...interesting that Weber has previously done work for and behalf of the Auditor-General's Office. It is also passing strange that Harfwit, OneSKY & the OneSKY ANAO audit reports don't even rate a mention? This is despite the fact that one of Mr Weber's main tasks is to oversee what would appear to be at least part of the original 'OneSKY' project:
“..Airservices is moving to replace its air traffic management system as part of a major capital expenditure program of more than $1 billion over the next five years..."
Or maybe I am missing something...
What I also find strange is that Harfwit's media minion has not even acknowledged that there is a new Board Member: ASA Media releases or News.

Maybe, like the FOI Disclosure log, Harfwit is cutting costs and can only publish one news item a week...

Just on the FOI disclosure log I note the following blurb off Harfwit's website in regards to ASA's Policy in regards to complying with the FOI Act: Agency plan

4.3 Register of information required or permitted to be published under the Scheme

The organisation will develop and maintain a “disclosure log” of information released in response to FOI requests in accordance with the requirements of section 11C of the FOI Act.

---

&.. for OAIC/ASA Legal Service review:

 8. Review of information publication scheme

The organisation will undertake, in conjunction with the Information Commissioner, a first review of the operation of the Scheme within the timeframes set out in section 9(2) of the FOI Act.

Following this first review, the organisation will undertake, in conjunction with the Information Commissioner, a review of the operation of the Scheme:

1. as appropriate from time to time; and
   
2. in any case – within 5 years after the last time a review was completed.
   

 

Hmm...5 years? Wonder why last year's required review didn't pick up the zilch input/update to the FOI disclosure log since September 2015?

MTF...P2