The question that needs to be asked of Beaker again for clarity and to be put on record is simply
"why weren't the boxes retrieved"? Any investigator or investigation bureau knows that the evidence from the boxes is more than likely to be the 'smoking gun'. There can only be two logical, non-tautological explanations here:
(a) Beaker was totally focused on cents and dollars over safety, or
(b) Beaker is completely and utterly out of his league and does not have the cability or understanding to run the ATSB.
Either way, the answer to either of these propositions would indicate he is certainly not the right person to remain in his position.
As for learning from history and mistakes, the example of the AF47 crash and the tenacious efforts by the
Bureau d'enquête sur les accidents d'aviation is something the nimrods in Canberra could learn from.
In the case of the Pelair crash the location of the boxes are pretty much known, sitting on the ocean floor like a pearl waiting to be eagerly snatched up by a Diver. It is a crime that these boxes have not been recovered.
Why hasn't the Minister delved into his trough and pulled out a handful of extra coin to be thrown at a Blackbox search and retrieve mission before now?
And the actions of the heirachy in CASA, the Regulator, not understanding the basic concepts of safety and vehemently standing by their statement of only looking at the pilots actions and ignoring all other factors almost leaves me speechless!
Perhaps the Senators, if they haven't already, could review Annex 13 and compare ATSB and CASA actions in relation to this accident? Then they could pose additional questions, if need be, to the upper echelon of these organsiations in the Senate under oath? A further review of 3.2 State Safety Program is also enlightening.
CASA and ATSB = Fail.
http://www.cad.gov.rs/docs/udesi/an13_cons.pdf