I wonder if the best person to run a public service agency is a person with previous public service administration experience?
At the end of the day, He/She does not need to fly or fix aeroplanes or load bags or do anything else in an operational sense - the DAS manages the Department to ensure the law is implemented as it stands, with the guidance of the Board. At least there is a pilot/engineer on the board (but he is a Nationals appointee and he will be removed if the ALP win govt).
The Law is written and amended by the Parliament.
The Parliament is the People's representative body as voted in by the good people of Australia.
The last two Pilot-DASs have been miserable failures either in their attitude to the GA sector (McCormack) or in their ability to manage and influence the culture of the department (Skidmore).
My grandfather was a teacher who became a schools inspector and eventually the head of the NSW Education Dept. Sadly that was a different era (he retired in 1968) and heads of department have since included Tanya Plibersek's drug-convicted husband and Mark Scott, ex head of the ABC.
What other Federal Govt agencies have an "experienced industry operator" at the helm?
Does the banking regulator have an ex-banker? Would any of us think that is a good outcome?
Does the health regulator AHPRA have a Doctor in command? if so why not a Nurse?
Does the Education dept have a Teacher or a school principal?
While it makes sense to us, does it make sense from a best-outcomes-from-public -policy angle?
Discuss.