Originally Posted by
Sunfish
Some Journalists know about the case but there are competing stories….. Ben Morgan’s man is key.
Am I correct in thinking that Albo is the architect of CASA and the Act?
If so, then I know a few politicians who might be interested.
Don’t know whose brainchild it was to create the independent corporate we now know as the (Un) Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).
Perhaps some smart mandarins who figured they could ride on the back of Brit. PM Margaret Thatcher’s privatisation policies and thus unhook their salaries from the regular Public Service pay scales and allow them greater scope for improving working conditions and perhaps pursue pet projects.
However it was implemented in1988 by Labor Minister for Transport Gareth Evans and Parliament passed the new Act which still supports the denial of the Westminster system of responsible government. Evans turfed out the administration of aviation out of his Department and probably heaved a sigh of relief. Unfortunately his salary didn’t take the dive it should have in light of his much reduced responsibility.
Then in 2009 another Labor Minister of Transport did the same with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), guess who? Well who’d a thunk it? Anthony Albanese. In his reading speech his main justification was that the body should not be subject of politics. What a great idea, take that thought to its logical conclusion and we could run all of government in this manner, no need for elected MPs at all.
The abject performance of today’s ATSB is testament to Albanese’s naïveté and muddle headed approach to removing Ministerial oversight from the various arms of government. The idea that the taxpayer can employ some people to carry out functions most effectively and efficiently at the lowest reasonable cost without any real oversight is pie in the sky. The ATSB’s performance after 2009 was so poor that the Canadian Board of Transportation was brought in to audit our ATSB. The report would make you blush.
The obvious trend of government by monopoly independent corporations is causing a real shift in power away from our elected representatives. CASA has been at it for thirty five years, and very successfully for them. Big money, CEO Pip Spence is paid $650,000.00 pa, which is considerably more than the Minister.
Sooner or later something must give, General Aviation (GA) is too important to be truncated and hindered at every turn by the out of control make work salary factory that is today’s CASA. The many aspects of GA include its part as an element of National security because aerial mobility is a crucial factor considering our small population and large continent.
My fervent hope is that Glen Buckley receives due compensation and that his case will contribute a notoriety about the dysfunction and waste caused by CASA.