ATSB up to their neck in it.
There have been a lot of comments here about removing several layers of CASA. Also a lot of commentary that the ATSB is easily fixed, and Beaker is the fix. It goes way beyond that as demonstrated in the AAI Senate References Committee report and Hansard. Actually, Beaker may have just been a "muppet" covering the F'Ups from those below, feeling pressure to appease him - the new bean/accident investigator on the block. And to add to SARCS comment, this is from Quinn's submission quoting the Miller Review.
“Tension between safety regulators and accident investigators is not unusual – there are international examples of such tension and, in any case, some degree of constructive tension between the ATSB and CASA should be expected given their respective roles. Although they are both important contributors to Australia's aviation safety system and share the same long term goal (improving aviation safety), they have quite different powers and functions. The very nature of the role of the ATSB often places it in the position of reviewer of CASA's regulatory and other actions where there has been an accident or serious incident. There can also be tensions arising from legitimate differences of opinion. Information about what happened in an aircraft accident or incident can be fragmented, allowing for a variety of hypotheses about what actually happened. The causes contributing to an aircraft accident or incident can often be diverse, leaving ample room for debate over what actually caused it. Differing professional judgements will inevitably lead to different views, often firmly held.”
“Creative tension can be a positive force. Professional disagreement, properly expressed, can lead to better outcomes overall as each party examines the views of the other and the expertise available to each is shared, debated and evaluated. A clearer picture can emerge and a better outcome may result.”
Doesn't seemed to have happened with Pel-Air! the simple question of how a "Critical" safety issue was downgraded to "Minor"! No intelligible explanation from Beaker, and no minutes of meetings! The man in the back of the room has left to vomit!
If you look at the video of the ATSB testimony, its a very nervous crew.