Chainsaw, what I see happening in the Canberra aviation bureaucracy is what I call “the Wheat Board plan.” We all saw the situation with the Wheat Board and Alexander Downer – where he was able to say that he wasn’t informed, therefore he could not be held responsible! I’m sure he wasn’t informed – that was the intentional part of the plan from the Department.
I see a similar situation occurring within the aviation bureaucracy, so when a catastrophe occurs, in their view the Minister will not be responsible as he “wasn’t informed.”
Of course this won’t work. None of us really cared about the Wheat Board situation because we all knew it would be impossible to sell to Sadam Hussein’s regime without providing some form of kick back. However in the case of an aviation catastrophe – especially when fatalities are involved – it will be quite different.
The Minister has been surrounded with people who “know nothing” and is then kept away from anyone who may be able to give him important safety advice. However I do not believe in this situation he will be able to claim – as Alexander Downer did – that he knew nothing and could therefore not be held responsible.
How do we solve the problem? I believe there is nothing we can do until it gets far worse and a catastrophe occurs. The aviation bureaucracy has got away with this since the days of John Anderson and it has worked well for them.
In fact, when John Anderson retired he was almost treated as a hero by his fellow Parliamentarians and by the media. This sent a clear message to politicians – even Deputy Prime Ministers – that is, don’t make any decisions you can be held accountable for and you will have an easy life.
It begs the question – why would someone want to become a Deputy Prime Minister, or a Minister, without at least achieving some worthwhile changes? I don’t know.
At the present time all we can do is sit and watch, but be very concerned.
In relation to the ATSB and CASA, the head ATSB investigator is ex-military and so is the head of CASA. They have come up through a culture which gives the message, “Never ask advice.” I believe that whilst this culture exists, we will never be able to move forward.
Last edited by Dick Smith; 24th June 2008 at 05:37.