You are wasting your time Glen. because you subscribe to the very common fantasy that if you could only explain your case to the CEO or Board or Minister IN PERSON, that they could see the truth in you, wave their magic wand, instantly right all wrongs and everyone lives happily ever after. Glen, Mate, THIS NEVER HAPPENS.
Spence, the Board, the Minister, have to take advice. They are very very busy people. They don't know anything about you except what is written in a one A4 page brief handed to them twelve hours or less before the meeting. They don't want to know you, they just want to resolve things as fast as possible and get on to the next task. THEY DON'T KNOW YOU, DON'T WANT TO KNOW YOU,, DON'T CARE ABOUT YOU, DON'T HAVE TIME TO LISTEN. ALL THEY CARE ABOUT IS RESOLUTION.
In the highly unlikely event that you get a meeting, guess who will:
1. Brief Ms. Spence before the meeting.
2. Be seated one metre behind her and one metre to her left or right.
3. Take the minutes of the meeting.
4.Write the letter of offer you will receive after the meeting.
5. Write the brief to the Board and the Minister detailing the substance and outcome of the meeting.
That's right.......
IMHO you DO NOT MEET CASA unless and until there is agreement between you and CASA that you have been wronged and an acceptable offer to you IN WRITING is already on the table.
You cannot make your case any better than you already have by meeting in person. All you are doing is giving them another opportunity to paint you as an insane malcontent - which is what they will do.
They are expert at twisting words and will pounce on your slightest exaggeration and/or verbal misstep to destroy your case. Whatever you do, if you raise your voice, swear or threaten they have got you cold.
Once you have met Spence you can be labelled as "a nutter who won't take no for an answer" what follows shortly thereafter is an application to the nearest Magistrates court for an AVO (apprehended violence order) preventing you from approaching any CASA staff and its game over.
You cannot improve your case by meeting any of these people. The reverse is true. Spence cannot help you directly, she has to follow procedure. A direct appeal CANNOT produce the outcome you seek and could very easily destroy the work you have already done. An agreement arising out of a personal meeting instead of out of bureaucratic procedure can easily be painted in the media as corruption, collusion or worse. This is exactly what happened to Gladys in Sydney and countless other senior bureaucrats and politicians over the years - "I met so and so and we agreed that.....$$$$$" don't you understand what the iron ring will do to Spence if she doesn't follow procedure??????
To put it another way, CEO's Boards and Ministers only have power when they follow laid down laws and procedure. A personal meeting leading to a personal decision and a personal offer, even if totally justified, is NOT part of the Westminster tradition as many have found to their cost.
All the best..
Last edited by Sunfish; 21st Mar 2022 at 11:51.