It seems as though the outlook is very grim indeed. But if, as you say, that the Minister will not be able to claim that he knew nothing and could therefore not be held responsible for the catastrophe when it occurs, then it defies belief that the Minister isn't doing something RFN to tin-plate his ar5e.
Which leads me to suspect that maybe the Minister is in fact a whole lot more stupid than he at present appears.
Dick may have handed back $10,000 which, even to a wealthy man is not chicken feed, but who is going to hand back the 100 to 200 million dollars, which has been wasted on the regulatory reform process over the past twenty years?
Surely failure to perform should be adequate reason to terminate Mr Byron's appointment?
Are these guys in CASA for real...I know what b.....s they are, but do they think everyone except them is stupid????
The latest announcement about conducting an inspection rampage across Northern Australia, is ludicrous. Obviously though, this is how they think. Tell everyone they're coming, give the operators time to get ready and then find nothing wrong. They can then go to the inquiry and say how good their regulation policies are.
A desperate attempt at further duping as many people as possible?
A representative of the Lockhart River families has published the following Press Release:
Quote:
PRESS RELEASE:
Canberra, June 24 AAP- The aviation regulator is conducting a month-long sweep across northern Australia in a bid to improve safety.
Northern Queensland, the Kimberley region in Western Australia and the Northern Territory will all be visited by officials from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA.)
Cities including Mt Isa and Cairns will be covered by the operation.
“Teams will arrive unannounced at large and small aviation operations, aerodromes and airstrips to conduct checks, provide safety advice and investigate any breaches of the regulations,” a statement from CASA said.
I am both astounded and appalled by the announcement yesterday by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority that it would conduct a safety sweep through Northern Australia.
This announcement is a cynical and blatant attempt by CASA to divert attention away from the forthcoming Senate inquiry into its multitude of failures to monitor and regulate the aviation industry in this area particularly, and to ensure that people can fly in safety. CASA officers involved in this decision must think that we are stupid.
By announcing the sweep yesterday, in advance of visits by CASA inspectors to many places, the organisation has given a heads-up so operators can get their acts together before they receive a visit.
This will enable CASA to say to the inquiry that its monitoring and regulation efforts are working.
If CASA had bothered to do its duty prior to the Lockhart River crash in 2005, 15 people would not have died.
This sickening performance is wholly consistent with the deceit and dishonesty that CASA has displayed towards the families of the Lockhart River crash, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau in its investigation of the crash, the Coronial Inquest and the Australian Senate.
Pinky and Dick are quite right - the terms of reference are stuffed and the Parliamentary Enquiry set up is myopic at best.
As one who has written more than a fair share of Ministerial briefings at both State and Federal level I can affirm that the scenareo Dick paints is sadly true. (ie. - The downline flunkies will kill their own grandmothers to ensure the respective Minister and CEO are buffered - best bet would be an "unofficial" word in either of their ears at any function, event (or even on a flight) followed by a diary note and maybe even an 'on record' note on prune of what was said.)
Unfortunately like FOI's, the submission process is a facade and any departmental flunky will make sure that the good Minister & CEO have the intell to dodge the bullets with a few well placed, non disclosable post it notes on the briefing papers.
If the Government was serious the terms of reference would be widened to allow what is currently little more than a means to contain the Coroner's shadow of obligation and precipe for litigation.
For the families of the Lockhart incident - I'm happy to donate to what well may become a very winable (and very justified) a civil action. Too this end, for the Minister, I strongly advocate buying some EGN centimetres in the Australian inviting cv's and quickly start work on the restructure of the dept.
For journalists - refer B Byron's proclaimations at 'Safer Skies' last year and ask the hard questions.
If the Government was serious the terms of reference would be widened to allow what is currently little more than a means to contain the Coroner's shadow of obligation and precipe for litigation.
It seems to me airtags that if the government is not serious about this Parliamentary Enquiry, then perhaps it (the government), the Minister, Ministerial advisers, and the departmental flunkies don't fully understand the precepts of honesty and fair dealing.
I believe that it will be very difficult for the cRudd Government and CASA to hide from the truth, especially after the Lockhart River accident. The interesting thing is the press release from the families associated with this tragic accident, which we know could have been prevented if CASA had followed its procedures and reviewed the airline in question.
I think CASA and its middle and senior managers will be in damage control mode and looking for ways to protect themselves, but the truth is this, somebody needs to go through CASA with the brush and get rid of the “dead wood” and also remove the “Old Boy” network. This would allow some fresh blood into the place. I see on PPRuNe that Canada has a problem with their aviation regulator.
I have to say that it’s SAD that CASA thinks that this statement will do anything:
“Teams will arrive unannounced at large and small aviation operations, aerodromes and airstrips to conduct checks, provide safety advice and investigate any breaches of the regulations,” a statement from CASA said.
Can somebody please tell CASA what “unannounced” means, as I do believe that they do not know, by the above statement, I’ll copy the meaning for them as from the on line Compact Oxford English Dictionary…..
1 not publicized. 2 without warning; unexpected
I believe the old boy network is in progress here, “Guys we are coming clean up your paperwork”…….. how much warning can you give and how blatantly do it as well, thinking we are that stupid that we do not know what they are doing………..
The terms of reference do not address the one very important aspect of cronyism. This is the basis of many earlier failed inquiries from The Commonwealth Ombudsman to The Senate.
The terms of reference do not allow, (from what I see), for Mates, within, or recently departed from the Industry to be investigated. These Mates can be personal, professional, Military, or prick relations.
Only CASA is being investigated.
The LHR matter will go no further than investigating present day CASA, and more needs investigating on other aspects within the sequence of prior events leading up to and including base and corrupt politics and cronyism before the disaster.
The terms of reference do not address the problem, indeed they perpetuate it.
The Labor Party can exploit this if they have the guts.
CASA officials are conducting unannounced checks at airstrips throughout northern parts of Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia.
The tests will be carried out over the next four weeks and will gauge how safety is addressed - pinpointing general issues within the industry.
"unannounced checks" ... "over the next four weeks" ... a threat?
Call me cynical, but isn't the public announcement, timing and intent of this exercise soley to demonstrate to the Senate Inquiry that CASA is carrying out it's surveylance task?
It's not a threat to the Senate Inquiry, it's a threat to the PBP flying in the area. Read the rest of my post. Unless anybody can change the terms of reference this is going nowhere. Also note the date for submissions.
It's no use discussing the matter, write to, or ring someone. Try these;
The Hon Kevin Rudd MP, Prime Minister
Mr David Epstein – Chief of Staff
02 6277 7700
The Hon Julia Gillard MP, Deputy Prime Minister
Ben Hubbard – Chief of Staff
02 6277 7320
The Wayne Swan MP, Treasurer
Chris Barrett – Chief of Staff
02 6277 7340
Senator the Hon Chris Evans, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
Michael Boyle – Chief of Staff
02 6277 7860
Senator the Hon John Faulkner, Special Minister of State
Kate Harrison – Chief of Staff
02 6277 7600
The Hon Simon Crean MP, Minister for Trade
David Garner – Chief of Staff
02 6277 7420
The Hon Stephen Smith MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs
Paul Grigson – Chief of Staff
02 6277 7500
The Hon Joel Fitzgibbon MP, Minister for Defence
Daniel Cotterill – Chief of Staff
02 6277 7800
The Hon Nicola Roxon MP, Minister for Health & Ageing
Michael Reid – Chief of Staff
02 6277 7220
The Hon Jenny Macklin MP, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
Joanna Brent – Chief of Staff
02 6277 7560
The Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government
Michael Chouiefate - Chief of Staff
02 6277 7680
Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
Mark Tapley – Chief of Staff
02 6277 7480
Senator the Hon Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Science and Research
Rachel Stephen-Smith – Chief of Staff
02 6277 7580
The Hon Peter Garrett AM MP, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts
David Williams – Chief of Staff
02 6277 7640
The Hon Robert McClelland MP, Attorney General
Jonathon Kirkwood – Chief of Staff
02 6277 7300
Senator the Hon Penny Wong, Minister for Climate Change and Water
David Fredericks – Chief of Staff
02 6277 7920
The Hon Tony Burke MP, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Kirsten Andrews, Chief of Staff
02 6277 7520
The Hon Martin Ferguson AM MP, Minister for Resources and Energy
Denise Spinks – Chief of Staff
02 6277 7930
The Hon Lindsay Tanner MP, Minister for Finance and Deregulation
Anthony Baker – Chief of Staff
02 6277 7400
The Hon Chris Bowen MP, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for Competition Policy & Consumer Affairs
Brett Gale – Chief of Staff
02 6277 7360
The Hon Bob Debus, Minister for Home Affairs
Michael Tatham - Chief of Staff
02 6277 7290
The Hon Justine Elliott, Minister for the Ageing
Walt Secord – Chief of Staff
02 6277 7280
The Hon Kate Ellis MP, Minister for Youth, Minister for Sport
Michael McGuire – Chief of Staff
02 6277 7350
The Hon Dr Craig Emerson MP, Minister for Small Business, Independent Contractors, and the Service Economy, Minister Assisting the Finance Minister on Deregulation
Lynne Ashpole – Chief of Staff
02 6277 7450
The Hon Alan Griffin MP, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
Ross Bain – Chief of Staff
02 6277 7820
Senator the Hon Joseph Ludwig, Minister for Human Services
Simon Every – Chief of Staff
02 6277 7200
The Hon Brendan O’Connor MP, Minister for Employment Participation
Yvette Nash – Chief of Staff
02 6277 7630
The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Minister for Housing, Minister for the Status of Women
Michael Woodhouse – Chief of Staff
02 6277 7780
Senator the Hon Nick Sherry, Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Governance
Judith Downey – Chief of Staff
02 6277 7410
The Hon Warren Snowdon MP, Minister for Defence Science and Personnel
Peter Reece – Chief of Staff
02 6277 7620
EDIT TO ADD The terms of reference, the whole three of them;
Terms of Reference
On 29 May 2008, the Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport resolved, under Standing Order 25(2)(b), to conduct a formal inquiry into the administration of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and related matters. The proposed reporting date is 9 July 2008.
Noting the Government's announced intention to release a National Aviation Policy Green Paper in the latter half of 2008 and the importance of maintaining Australia's strong aviation safety record, the committee will conduct an inquiry into the administration of CASA and related matters:
to assess the effectiveness of administrative reforms undertaken by CASA's management since 2003;
to examine the effectiveness of CASA's governance structure; and
to consider ways to strengthen CASA's relations with industry and ensure CASA meets community expectations of a firm safety regulator.
The committee invites written submissions, which should be lodged by Monday, 30 June 2008, to:
The Secretary
Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
The terms of reference still do not address the problems.
They will not alter the status quo except re-arrange the deckchairs. That includes Byron's position.
I don't see how it will placate the LHR Families unless liability is admitted, which it won't be.
The CASA Board will only be effective if it's members are "hands on" aviation people. Remember the last one?
Everyone who has been 'fingered' by the Funnelweb of CASA must put in a submission or an opportunity is lost. You can't rely on your 'representative' organisations to take up individual causes. It has to be done individually.
The problem as I see it is nobody currently working, or reliant on CASA's benevolence will stand up, and only those who have been touched by CASA's vindictiveness and heavy handed tactics will, and they will be classed as vexacious crusaders.
I mentioned prior that there is an opportunity for the Labor Government to gain some ground here, even if they extend the Inquiry to a Royal Commission, simply because they already know the outcome.
Bob, that’s my concern, they have already formulated the required conclusion to the review, a Royal Commission would be the more ideal review, that way the “Deckchairs” can only be moved so far without a please explain and more in-depth investigation would be required.
I’m with Dick on this one, it is going to take another LHR accident and THEN a Royal Commission will be required/demanded by the travelling public as their safety has been placed into jeopardy by CASA and it’s lack of ability to enforce it’s own regulations.
The Labour government under cRudd will do nothing, that’s labour, they promised the earth and have delivered nothing, well not really nothing, they have delivered us into this problem by privatisation of the secondary aerodromes.
Dick, question for you, can you not talk to the press or have a word in some bodies ear?????
I would also like to ask Dick Smith to speak with the media.
You have a much higher profile than people like me..the media are only intersted in my comments if there is an opportunity for a sensationalist "grab," and then they change it around to suit their purposes. We have become very wary of media promises.
The issue of vexatious crusaders is real and is one of CASA's most used defences when it comes to LHR. Counsel Assisting, CASA's barrister and Les Wright's lawyer used it many times during the Inquest.
However, you don't have to be a rocket scientist to realise that by sheer numbers, we all can't be painted with that brush.
It is not vexatious of us, who are not members of the industry, to be seeking justice and accountabilty. The same can be said of those in the industry who simply want a fair, equitable and safe system that is consistent. In such a system, there is no room for cronyism, bullies, half-arsed audits and warnings, and incompetency. In most other properly regulated industries, you would be shown the door very smartly.
I am hoping that enough concern and noise will alert the committee to the shortcomings of the terms of reference. The more submissions, the better.
This is so frustrating that we can't do anything but just have to sit back and watch a "kangaroo" Senate Inquiry take place
Dick, can’t you become a politician and sort these dickhe@ds out, I’d do it myself, but I can't lie as efficiently as they do, and I also have to look at myself in the mirror in the morning, and I'm far to passionate about aviation and what is happening, to keep my mouth shut
Why are the journalists quiet on this, thought this would be a great story for them…….
As Dick has said, we are very limited to what we can do, apart from sitting back and watching the already scripted conclusion to the senate inquiry be played out in the public arena.
The LHR families I think will not let this go away until they are happy with the outcome, I also hope that they keep fighting till both the Government and CASA are shown to have breached their care of duty, and held responsible, but alas, they will never do that.
I agree with you, we must continue to make the general public aware of the issues and problems with the department and the lack of ability for that department to enforce its regulatory obligations to safety.
I agree with Bob Murphie when he says “The Labor Party can exploit this if they have the guts” but they are now showing that they talk the talk for the election and DO NOT walk the walk.
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