In reality, the ‘new’ Government has 23 ministers covering what I understand to be 16 departments. The appointment of a junior Minister to an aviation portfolio could be implemented. An aviation portfolio could potentially cover not only GA, but it could also realign CASA and have a measure of closer oversight of the big ‘R’ regulator including implementing either the USA or NZ regulatory suite. The Ministers department could oversee the develop of aviation infrastructure, seek out and bring in aviation business units such as manufacturing and training, cut red tape and actually foster and promote aviation and it could deliver on the recommendations from the 2014 Forsyth review. Australia could potentially tap into billions of international dollars, yet we sit here with our thumbs up our arses due to a lack of credible Government sponsored action.
The legacy of CASA since 1988 is like living through a fatal car crash over and over again. There has been countless shenanigans over the decades and the examples of people like Glen Buckley, and others before him, should be the catalyst to raise the alarm bells. Hell, the way Aleck threw the gullible MsSpence under the bus twice in spectacular fashion in front of a Senate committee highlights the endemic issues in aviation oversight.