Coroner Chapel's quote.."I gained the very distinct impression that this constituted an ex post facto justification for a conclusion that had already been reached rather than a genuinely dispassionate scientific analysis of the factors involved."..
In one way it's a very good thing that we don't have many coroners reports to work with, mostly due to industry efforts. Conversely, the one's we do have seem marred by double tragedy; there is the easily discernable human side, in those left behind from Lockhart, Hempell etc. Less obvious is the effect of subtle, but premeditated systematic abuse, the lack of accountability, the dismissive attitude to recommendation and the manipulation of a system to ensure that under no circumstances can the status quo be upset. The well practiced process is clearly visible in the AAT, it's not even subtle there. Which brings us to the parliamentary system of inquiry.
Are we to expect more of the same with the present whimsical Truss effort?
A Senate committee will ask very detailed questions as to precisely how the Federal Police investigated the earlier concerns of the committee which considered the ATSB Pel-Air crash report, and referred possible breaches of the law by CASA to the AFP. The Federal Police will be asked if certain lines of inquiry were discontinued or disregarded.
The -
Ben Sandilands – offering carefully highlights issues which will not be dealt with by the Truss review panel; indeed it is verboten. If the Murky Machiavellian department don't like your submission, it will be placed in pile 'D' for dump. You may have to wait a long wait before these answers are carefully eased quietly out into the real world. By then, those who are aware will have died of boredom, broken heart or booze and riotous living.
My expectation is that a massive whitewash will be attempted, and … it won’t wash. I’m happy to say on a reasonable reading of all of the evidence that the ATSB and CASA probably conspired to suppress incompetence on the part of CASA, that the Transport Safety Investigation Act was offended, and that they set out to frame the pilot of the flight in a manner severely prejudicial to all tests of procedural fairness and failed to produce a report which meets internationally accepted standards of an air accident investigation by a first world country.
Not to worry Ben, time will cure this problem, slowly but with surety the little problems will slip away into the night while the Smoke and Mirrors department waft away the stench over the next couple of years.
I expect that the Minister has, or will, ask why nothing material has been done change the ludicrously stupid regulations that apply to the refuelling of oceanic flights by Australian run air ambulance services in the more than four years since the Pel-Air crash occurred.
Sorry mate, the minor issues of fuel rules is a newcomer to regulatory reform; some of the rules have been patiently queued up for 25 years awaiting the attention of the reformers. A non fatal swimming exhibition where the flaws in the BoM, CASA, ATSB and ASA systems are exposed does not get priority: no! (little foot stamp) there is a protocol and process in place to deal with these minor irritations.
The serenity of Sleepy Hollow and all who graze in the lush, Elysian fields must not be disturbed, least of all by those miscreant elements who had the temerity to survive. And anyway, there is a welcome party for four newcomers to prepare, overseas guests are always especially welcome.
Now Sir, will you have nuts or a cigar?