The right question...
Ian Tucker - “Well done Sandy Reith. I was impressed with Senator McDonald's performance as chair of the Senate Enquiry. She is obviously frustrated with CASA's lack of accountability exposed during the enquiry.
Ian Tucker - “What are her thoughts on your suggestion to get CASA back under ministerial control as per normal departmental structure?”
Spot on...Aye: that is THE question. It begs other questions though don't though; for instance are the Mandarins – the heavy duty ones, concerned or jealous? They should be concerned, the Westminster system has served well for generations now, through all manner of trials and troubles, a corner stone of the democracy we all cherish. Etc. etc...For how much longer will the pillars supporting the democratic system sit back and watch an untouchable autocracy run amok without any form of accountability, restraint or limits?
Pick a challenge; any challenge, say climbing Mt Everest or swimming the English Chanel – Google the list of those who have managed to do it; no problem finding those worthies is there. Now find the list of those who tried but didn't make it; there ain't one is there. Sad, but non the less true. Sharpen your research pencil and try to find the list of politicians (all stripes) who have actually managed meaningful reform of aviation management over the past three decades; not a long list is it. There is however a long, long list of those who have tried and failed to put a dent in the Teflon coat the aviation authorities wear. Just add up the easy ones; the 'hearings' and inquiries; the countless pages of submissions; you could even throw in meetings like the one between the excellent Sandy and Senator Mac. One could even stretch the point and take a long look at the McDonald inquiry (20/20) – good effort, no doubt about it. But did it produce anything of real value to Angel Flight? Was the game worth the very expensive candle? Did it resolve the 'big' question – the one which is never answered; aviation is diminishing yet the CASA budget and staff keeps growing. Why?
I suspect the latest round of Fool-Aid fuelled looking to the Vertiport future is the latest make work project and will be used to mask the excesses; watch as Spence leads her troops 'into the future'.
Toot -toot...
Ian Tucker - “Well done Sandy Reith. I was impressed with Senator McDonald's performance as chair of the Senate Enquiry. She is obviously frustrated with CASA's lack of accountability exposed during the enquiry.
Ian Tucker - “What are her thoughts on your suggestion to get CASA back under ministerial control as per normal departmental structure?”
Spot on...Aye: that is THE question. It begs other questions though don't though; for instance are the Mandarins – the heavy duty ones, concerned or jealous? They should be concerned, the Westminster system has served well for generations now, through all manner of trials and troubles, a corner stone of the democracy we all cherish. Etc. etc...For how much longer will the pillars supporting the democratic system sit back and watch an untouchable autocracy run amok without any form of accountability, restraint or limits?
Pick a challenge; any challenge, say climbing Mt Everest or swimming the English Chanel – Google the list of those who have managed to do it; no problem finding those worthies is there. Now find the list of those who tried but didn't make it; there ain't one is there. Sad, but non the less true. Sharpen your research pencil and try to find the list of politicians (all stripes) who have actually managed meaningful reform of aviation management over the past three decades; not a long list is it. There is however a long, long list of those who have tried and failed to put a dent in the Teflon coat the aviation authorities wear. Just add up the easy ones; the 'hearings' and inquiries; the countless pages of submissions; you could even throw in meetings like the one between the excellent Sandy and Senator Mac. One could even stretch the point and take a long look at the McDonald inquiry (20/20) – good effort, no doubt about it. But did it produce anything of real value to Angel Flight? Was the game worth the very expensive candle? Did it resolve the 'big' question – the one which is never answered; aviation is diminishing yet the CASA budget and staff keeps growing. Why?
I suspect the latest round of Fool-Aid fuelled looking to the Vertiport future is the latest make work project and will be used to mask the excesses; watch as Spence leads her troops 'into the future'.
Toot -toot...