Senate Estimates 24th February 2015. A very pleasant evening with the Senators. I just caught up with the recordings - well worth a look. If you thought PelAir and CASA and ATSB was dead, think again. There is blood in the water, and plenty of curly questions were taken on notice.
The recordings are available at aph.gov.au
Watch Parliament ? Parliament of Australia
Also available on youtube
The order was re-scheduled for some reason.
CASA
CASA appeared in the afternoon session (i.e. part 2). CASA was the final department in the afternoon session - CASA starts at 4h16m into the recording (4:16 of part 2).
Nick X asked if the PelAir chief pilot had taken up a regulatory compliance position with CASA during the ATSB investigation. Skidmore didn’t know - plausible I guess given he is new. Farq helped him out to confirm He had indeed held such a position, but indicated he may have now left. CASA undertook to advise relevant dates if he has now left CASA. .
Nick X also asked what due diligence CASA undertook to ensure the PelAir regulatory deficits uncovered by the CASA special audit were not the responsibility of the then CP. NX continued on to suggest that if the CP had any responsibility for the PelAir regulatory deficits, then this could suggest he was not suitable for a regulatory compliance position at CASA. Long long pause. Skidmore then took this question on notice! We are all looking forward to that particular answer.
ATSB
ATSB appeared last, and Nick X led the charge. NX had been unavailable when ATSB was first called so ATSB was rescheduled. I had the feeling NX was doing a bit of last minute research before facing ATSB, and this may have been reason for rescheduling.
Dolan said ATSB had changed its view that the issues raised in CASA special audit had been addressed. ATSB was no longer of that view. "Will the Special audit and Chambers report be considered in new investigation?" Yes Senator.
Expect new investigation to be finished by Christmas 2015
Will get recorders ASAP, and believe data will still be recoverable
Investigation will be independent of initial investigation, with very minimal cross-over of staff. Other than ATSB reviewing ATSB of course.
Senate committee will get regular updates on progress during new investigation.
Joke of the night came from Heff, who innocently asked if the CP of PelAir at time of crash was working for CASA at time of ATSB investigation. Dolan stumbled and stuttered “I genuinely can’t recall Senator.” Someone at the back of the room apparently nodded his head in answer to Heff’s question, and Heff seemed happy with that. For now.
Plenty of warnings there would be additional QON for both CASA and ATSB. We didn’t get to hear what these were, and may have nothing to do with PelAir.