Blueyonda “I may have interpreted this incorrectly, under a line of questioning that Ms Spence could not answer, she did say someone might be able to rush in and provide the answer (my words,) as in someone in her immeadiate vicinity. But alas, silence.”
I think your interpretation quite correct, more than that it’s common practice for the underlings to pass up helpful briefing papers or chime in with an offer of assistance without being asked.
Twice now we’ve been witness to the same extraordinary spectacle of the highly paid CEO of CASA coming to a public Senate hearing not being prepared. It truly beggars belief, imagine the US, NZ UK or Canadians looking at this disgraceful display of incompetence. And I’m sure they’d be thinking, as I do, your Parliament set up this corporate in the attempt to relinquish responsibility so what do you expect?
The fact that the CEO Ms Spence has failed to learn about the most pressing issues, and shies from responsibility by citing ‘that was before my time’ is exemplified by her treatment of Glen Buckley.
Instead of ascertaining the facts from her $500,000 pa Managers about Glen’s unjustifiable treatment and then making her own judgment Ms. Spence handballs to the Ombudsman, again.
Perfectly predictable; because this is how Government Industries works when Parliament reneges on its responsibility.
The aversion by Parliament, and many Members (2009 Albo rids his Ministry of the ATSB), to the responsibility conferred by our Constitution and the Westminster tradition is manifest in the arrogance of senior Public Sector managers. The current Estimates is such a good example and not just about CASA. The head of ASIO upbraids a Senator by accusing her of making an inappropriate question.
This whole trajectory, give all the tricky bits to ‘independent’ Ombudsman offices, Commissioners, ICACs and Commonwealth corporations like CASA, ATSB, ASA, Infrastructure Australia even Meat Australia, and many others, has become a major impediment to good governance and free enterprise.
The shift in power, the unseen revolving doors PS employment cross pollination and the many $billions in fat salaries and great working conditions are at stake and driving the body politic.
Finally, it is we the voters who elect representatives. If we sit back, don’t engage with them, don’t go to meetings, don’t write critiques, don’t talk to media but only throw brickbats and epithets then who is to blame?