MeMe
You have me at a disadvantage. Because of the lack of transparency in the communications from the AAPMBF, I have little idea of exactly what it is that Capt. Seedsman is deemed to have done, that warrants action.
You and your sycophants keep on about a conflict of interest. I wonder a) do you understand what a conflict of interest is and/or b) what effect it may have on the organisation.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) guidelines on Conflict of Interest state clearly ‘there is nothing unusual or necessarily wrong in having a conflict of interest. How it is dealt with is the important thing’.
ICAC has defined conflict of interest in the following terms, based on the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) definition:
‘A conflict of interest involves a conflict between the public duty and private interests of a public official, in which the public official has private interests which could improperly influence the performance of their official duties and responsibilities' (OECD guidelines, 2003, para10).
More specifically, conflicts of interest can be actual, perceived, or potential:
· Actual: involves a direct conflict between current duties and responsibilities and existing private interests
· Perceived: conflict exists where it could be perceived, or appears, that private interests could improperly influence the performance of duties—whether or not this is in fact the case
· Potential: arises where private interests could conflict with official duties
· A conflict of interest can be pecuniary (involving financial gain or loss) or non-pecuniary (based on enmity or amity). A conflict of interest can arise from avoiding personal losses as well as gaining personal advantage, financial or otherwise.
In applying the ICAC test of conflict we must ask the following questions.
1) Does a direct conflict exist between the current duties and the existing PRIVATE INTERESTS of the individual concerned?
2) Could the PRIVATE INTERESTS of the individual concerned, improperly influence the performance of his duties?
3) Could the PRIVATE INTERESTS of the individual conflict with his official duties?
4) Will the individual concerned gain in any material way from his support or lack there of, of any decision to which he is party.
5) Is the individual concerned acting out of hostility to the ORGANISATION (AAPMBF) of which he is an officer?
6) Is the individual concerned acting in support of another organisation (AFAP) from which he will derive some material benefit, from the decisions he will support or oppose in the subject organisation (AAPMBF)?
Capt Seedsman is an officer of both the AFAP and of the AAPMBF.
Neither is a commercial entity. The AFAP is an industrial Federation of employees of the aviation industry. The AAPMBF is a Mutual Benefit organisation of some members of the AFAP. All members of the AAPMBF are members of the AFAP, most members (but not all) of the AFAP are members of the AAPMBF. Ipso facto the Board of the AAPMBF can do nothing to harm the members of the AFAP as they are in turn the members of the AAPMBF.
Capt Seedsman has responsibilities to the membership both of those organisations.
Both of the organisations are non commercial collectives of members. To a large degree the membership of the two organisations, is the same. In that the membership is the same and commercial interests are not involved, the interests, if not the responsibilities, of/to the two groups are inseparable. In protecting the interests of the members of the AAPMBF Capt Seedsman is also protecting the interests of the majority of the membership of the AFAP and visa versa.
My understanding of the situation is that Capt. Seedsman made a stand against matters he considered to be detrimental to the AAPMBF membership in properly constituted fora, the AAPMBF Board room and the AFAP executive. This does not constitute a conflict of interest, it signifies a diligent discharge of the responsibilities of a Board member.
A CONFLICT OF RESPONSIBILITY would arise if Capt Seedsman exercised his responsibilities to the AAPMBF members to the detriment of members of the AFAP who are not members of the AAPMBF, or visa versa.
My question to you and to the Board of which you are a member (or proxy thereto). Has Capt Seedsman done anything that benefits the non AAPMF membership of the AFAP, to the detriment of the AAPMBF members of the AFAP. Further, has Capt Seedsman incurred any personal gain or potential personal gain from any of the decisions he has been party to in either organisation.
Basically MeMe, I am asking that you provide us with your concerns about Capt Seedsman’s behaviour rather than the vague unsubstantiated innuendo.
Should you fail to sustain a conflict of interest argument based on the ICAC’s interpretation pray tell what higher authority do you use to judge this man.
To reiterate, the ICAC deems that conflicts, in and of themselves are not necessarily unusual or wrong, but how they are handled is relevant.
MeMe, nothing disingenuous intended in my brevity in dealing with the issue. It is appears to be an artifice designed to distract from the far more important issue of future directions of the AAPMBF. Given that only one Board vote out of nine is affected it was given the attention it deserves.
Anytime you want to tell us what is really going on, and debate the matter openly, I will be happy to oblige.
For the record. Capt Seedsman and I have many areas of disagreement, he even threatened to sue me on one occasion. However I have the utmost respect for his honesty integrity and his dedication to his fellow pilots.
Paul Makin