[Peetwo]

miniscule 4D (M&M prepared) AAA speech; & the PFAS ticking PED -  

(PED definition: Politicised Explosive Device)

Referring to the GD post here:

P2;


"If 4D was actually sincere about the above statement then you would think that he would have responded by accompanying the AAA MR with a presser from his own office?? But for some reason that didn't occur".

Very good pick up P2. Well done. Pollies love positive Pressers. Perhaps he saw that there was a risk he may have to shelve out money, hence his forgoing some PR? Or maybe he was busy at the hair salon that day getting his todger trimmed and primed for another men's urinal selfie shot? And that's about the truth of it isn't it? This der-brain Politician hasn't got a clue. He accepts a report, shakes someone's hand, twerps it out on Twatter (probably along with a photo of his perfect hair and manscaped body), files the report on Barmyboys top shelf under the heading 'More IOS Complaints' and leaves it there to gather dust for the next half a century.

Amongst other platitudes, I note that ironically miniscule 4D, in his address to the AAA conference, has more publicly acknowledged the AAA exemplary report:

Australian Airports Association — National Airport Industry Awards 2016

Great Hall, Parliament House Canberra.

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& via AA:


Federal government committed to funding regional airports

November 24, 2016 By Jordan Chong

Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester says the federal government is committed to help regional airports meet the financial challenges in the years ahead. While the likes of …

“I thank the AAA for its recent report on Regional Airport Infrastructure, highlighting the challenges that these essential transport hubs are facing,” he said.

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& this AM from Oz Flying:


Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Darren Chester.

Minister commits to Regional Airport Funding
25 November 2016
 
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester has committed the Federal Government to funding regional and remote airports across Australia.

Speaking at the Australian Airports Association (AAA) dinner in Canberra last Wednesday, Chester said he would work with the AAA to make sure airport infrastructure was adequately maintained.
"At the local level, it can be a challenge to adequately fund the ongoing maintenance and development of regional or remote airports," Chester said.
"Other levels of government are generally responsible for these airports within our federal system. However, we do provide funding for access and safety upgrades through the Regional Aviation Access Programme."
"This year we also announced funding to upgrade airports in Merimbula, Moruya, Port Macquarie, Tamworth, and Busselton-Margaret River.
"And in Round Three of the National Stronger Regions Fund – funds have recently been committed to the Derby, Parkes and Dubbo airports.
"I am committed to continue to fund our regional and remote aerodromes and will work with the AAA on how best our government can deliver the appropriate support to this vital infrastructure."
Chester pointed out that, as a regional MP himself, he understood the importance of aviation to regional communities, but also noted that airports had to exist with a level of harmony in the communities they serve.
"Airport operators, whether large or small, need to develop a strong, open, beneficial relationship within their communities, to manage issues such as potential noise impacts.
"In this vein, a great deal of work has gone into promoting the National Airports Safeguarding Framework, incorporating guidelines on noise, wildlife strike [and] wind turbine risk."
The full text of Chester's speech is available on his ministerial website.

Read more at http://www.australianflying.com.au/lates...pb7zHQt.99

However on that encouraging note for airports, I must again highlight the growing PFAS issue that is a bit like a PED ticking away outside 4D's office:

1st an update from GD off the BITN thread:

Perth airport next on the PFOS testing program;

http://www.communitynews.com.au/southern...amination/

"PERTH Airport is being assessed for contamination from the same toxic chemicals that leeched into groundwater and rendered farmland unusable around the RAAF Williamtown base in New South Wales.

The culprits are the man-made chemicals perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) found in fire fighting foam used at airports and Department of Defence sites across Australia.

Federal government organisation Airservices Australia, responsible for regulating firefighting foam used at government-owned airports, is expected to release preliminary test results in a report next month.

A spokesperson for Perth Airport said it was working closely with a range of State and Commonwealth government agencies, including the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development (DIRD), Airservices Australia and the state departments of Environmental Regulation and Health.

“Perth Airport complies with the DIRD guidelines in conducting risk assessments on its operations to ensure the safety of its employees,” the spokesperson said.

Interesting though, the new Pertth CEO is a hedge fund stool. What is Ironic is that Perth's former environment manager is now CEO Newcastle! Anyway, the new Perth CEO cut the guts out of the environment staff at his last venture, North Queensland Airports. They had heaps of issues which include PFOS and a still not-contained underground fuel leak.

It's a relatively small world when it comes to airports and I know there are a number of people not happy that this particular CEO is joining joining a healthy vibrant airport known for its transparency.

Tick Tock Perth and welcome to the PFOS hall of shame

    
I also noticed in the HoR Hansard for yesterday's sitting of Parliament there was no less than five MP statements highlighting their electoral constituents growing concern on the PFAS issue: STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Now I know that these statements are all addressing defence facilities with known PFAS contamination issues but considering all of those statements were made by Labor MPs including opposition leader Bill Shorten...

Mr SHORTEN (Maribyrnong—Leader of the Opposition) (13:57): I want to thank my colleagues who have spoken today. That is what good local members do; they stand up for their communities when times are tough. I have had the privilege, through the member for Paterson, of meeting with families near Williamtown—parents like Samantha Kelly, the loving mother of baby William. These brave residents currently fear the worst. They are worried about the effects on their health, their homes, their children and their livelihoods. They have been waiting too long for decisive action from the Commonwealth government—action which involves listening as well as doing.

For me, it is this simple: imagine if your livelihood was under a cloud and your property was at risk. Imagine if it was your family and your children. Would you be satisfied with the inaction and mixed messages from the government? This is not a time to airily dismiss people's concerns or hide behind red tape and process. It is not an occasion where we can let our fellow Australians be passed from one phone queue to another. We have seen what happened at Fiskville, for example. Therefore, we cannot simply dismiss the concerns of Australians at Williamtown, Oakey and elsewhere—all around the country—who are looking to this parliament for a national approach. They are asking for our help. To those residents who are concerned I say: Labor will stand with you. We will keep fighting for you today and every day.

 
  ...it is obvious that Labor feel they are on the right side of the ledger politically to attack the Malcolm Turnbull government on this issue; therefore it is just a matter of time before it becomes a political headache for miniscule 4D...

MTF...P2

Ps Oh well at least the miniscule will be pleased I didn't talk about the war err...MH370