Bushranger,
Totally agree and as stated the ADF has become risk adverse. But can you really blame the CO's, XO's? There is no need to imagine what would happen if someone launched an asset and it was lost or worst still lost with civilians on board without the CDF giving his approval. Minimum would be a manslaughter charge I would think. Back to fix the blame not the fault.
Undoubtedly under review of the recent events if new procedures are needed they will be forthcoming.
Bushranger what would have happened if the Iroquois had come to grief? It would have be unquestioned that the action was acceptable and unless something stupid had occurred (an out of cat captain or similar) then that’s just part of the role and risk. Same scenario today and someone will get hung drawn and quartered for not waiting for the appropriate authorisation which has been taken out of the hands that should control it.
Apart from the 1974 flood has any other flood been as catastrophic as this one. We do, even if in different parts of the country, have floods on a regular basis but do we have floods and if we do how often, of the type that hit Lockyer Valley and Toowoomba?