Tail_Wheel
9th Oct 2005, 08:05
Terror fight risk
Sunday Telegraph
Glenn Milne
October 9, 2005
The Federal Government's preparedness for a possible terrorist attack is once again under question amid claims that the head of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is treating his $480,000-a-year position as a part-time job.
Bruce Byron has chosen to base himself in Melbourne, despite CASA's headquarters being in Canberra – close to the Prime Minister and senior ministers in the event of a terrorist incident.
CASA would be centrally involved were a plane to be hijacked or passengers taken hostage. In the event of a plane being crashed into a civilian target, CASA would be integral to the response.
CASA staff are in revolt over what they claim is Byron's consistent absence from the organisation's headquarters. They estimate he appears in Canberra only once a week.
When Byron took the job in late 2003, he had an office constructed at CASA's Moorabbin branch in Melbourne and installed a personal assistant. But six months later, the office was closed down and his PA was re-assigned.
Byron has no personal office at CASA's Little Collins St premises in Melbourne, and in Canberra he shares a PA with other senior staff members.
"From time to time, he pops into the Moorabbin and Little Collins St offices," a senior CASA source says.
"He appears in Canberra once a week. We also believe he works from home on the Mornington Peninsula. It's all extremely odd."
And extremely expensive. According to answers provided to Opposition transport spokesman Kerry O'Brien, taxpayers are bearing the brunt of Byron's decision not to base himself in Canberra.
For the period from December 1, 2003 to May 10 this year, he made 86 trips between Canberra and Melbourne.
The cost of travel for this period was $52,762, including air fares, taxi hire, car rental, parking and petrol costs. For the same period, Byron received a travel allowance of $16,318.
His total domestic travel costs for the period from December 1 2003, to April 30 this year were $106,682.
Senator O'Brien wants some answers: "It appears Mr Byron is effectively working part-time from his home in Melbourne. In the event of a major safety or security incident in Australia involving an aircraft, it would take half a day for Mr Byron to be on deck in the CASA head office.
"The Australian community needs to feel secure in the knowledge that if a terrorist incident involving an aircraft, or a major aviation accident, were to occur in this country, the key decision-makers would be available to immediately come together to deal with whatever has occurred."
How would Byron do this if an event caused the shutdown of aviation services, as occurred after the 9/11 attacks?
"CASA is being asked by the Government to cover more of its costs through industry charges – meaning that the industry is footing the bill for Mr Byron's lifestyle choice of working part-time from his Melbourne home.
"At a time when we are loading up the Australian civil aviation industry with more and more costs to ensure safety and security are protected, the question needs to be asked whether it is reasonable to expect the industry – and, ultimately, the travelling public – to foot the bill for Mr Byron's travel expenses and lifestyle choice."
A spokesman for the CASA CEO responded: "The fact Mr Byron is not based in Canberra was part of his original employment contract.
"He spends a lot of time in other CASA offices interstate. That's important, because it keeps him in touch in the field. He also travels around the country talking to the industry."
That's unlikely to satisfy Senator O'Brien. Byron's appearance before the next Senate estimates hearing should be fascinating.
The Sunday Telegraph
Sunday Telegraph
Glenn Milne
October 9, 2005
The Federal Government's preparedness for a possible terrorist attack is once again under question amid claims that the head of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is treating his $480,000-a-year position as a part-time job.
Bruce Byron has chosen to base himself in Melbourne, despite CASA's headquarters being in Canberra – close to the Prime Minister and senior ministers in the event of a terrorist incident.
CASA would be centrally involved were a plane to be hijacked or passengers taken hostage. In the event of a plane being crashed into a civilian target, CASA would be integral to the response.
CASA staff are in revolt over what they claim is Byron's consistent absence from the organisation's headquarters. They estimate he appears in Canberra only once a week.
When Byron took the job in late 2003, he had an office constructed at CASA's Moorabbin branch in Melbourne and installed a personal assistant. But six months later, the office was closed down and his PA was re-assigned.
Byron has no personal office at CASA's Little Collins St premises in Melbourne, and in Canberra he shares a PA with other senior staff members.
"From time to time, he pops into the Moorabbin and Little Collins St offices," a senior CASA source says.
"He appears in Canberra once a week. We also believe he works from home on the Mornington Peninsula. It's all extremely odd."
And extremely expensive. According to answers provided to Opposition transport spokesman Kerry O'Brien, taxpayers are bearing the brunt of Byron's decision not to base himself in Canberra.
For the period from December 1, 2003 to May 10 this year, he made 86 trips between Canberra and Melbourne.
The cost of travel for this period was $52,762, including air fares, taxi hire, car rental, parking and petrol costs. For the same period, Byron received a travel allowance of $16,318.
His total domestic travel costs for the period from December 1 2003, to April 30 this year were $106,682.
Senator O'Brien wants some answers: "It appears Mr Byron is effectively working part-time from his home in Melbourne. In the event of a major safety or security incident in Australia involving an aircraft, it would take half a day for Mr Byron to be on deck in the CASA head office.
"The Australian community needs to feel secure in the knowledge that if a terrorist incident involving an aircraft, or a major aviation accident, were to occur in this country, the key decision-makers would be available to immediately come together to deal with whatever has occurred."
How would Byron do this if an event caused the shutdown of aviation services, as occurred after the 9/11 attacks?
"CASA is being asked by the Government to cover more of its costs through industry charges – meaning that the industry is footing the bill for Mr Byron's lifestyle choice of working part-time from his Melbourne home.
"At a time when we are loading up the Australian civil aviation industry with more and more costs to ensure safety and security are protected, the question needs to be asked whether it is reasonable to expect the industry – and, ultimately, the travelling public – to foot the bill for Mr Byron's travel expenses and lifestyle choice."
A spokesman for the CASA CEO responded: "The fact Mr Byron is not based in Canberra was part of his original employment contract.
"He spends a lot of time in other CASA offices interstate. That's important, because it keeps him in touch in the field. He also travels around the country talking to the industry."
That's unlikely to satisfy Senator O'Brien. Byron's appearance before the next Senate estimates hearing should be fascinating.
The Sunday Telegraph