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-   -   Dick Smith funds signs in Deputy Prime Minister Electorate (https://www.pprune.org/pacific-general-aviation-questions/616010-dick-smith-funds-signs-deputy-prime-minister-electorate.html)

machtuk 4th Dec 2018 03:56


Originally Posted by CaptainMidnight (Post 10327352)
Riverina isn't marginal.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/federal-e...16/guide/rive/

I suspect the vast majority of residents in that electorate couldn't give a flying fig about GA, and consider there are other things far more important to them.

Exactly ! We have 26 Mill people in this country, how many are involved in GA?...two fifths of stuff all! Again the gen public couldn't give a stuff about rich pilots/owners or the GA industry, there are far more important things to get angry about that effects them than some signs on the side of the road that are meaningless to most, the few left flying GA or what's left of GA training are barely scratching out a living! GA training is not even needed anymore in it's traditional form. It was good in the heady days but those days are looooong gone, as above said ...well past the PNR! RIP GA, CASA are far too deeply infected and are incapable of doing the right thing !

Sub Orbital 4th Dec 2018 04:18

Dick, you have stated you may be interested in running for federal parliament in Bronwyn Bishop's old seat. Have you considered running in McCormack's seat of Wagga? That could put the cat amongst the pigeons. It is considered a "safe" seat but remember the Liberals do not contest it. Just a thought.

CaptainMidnight 4th Dec 2018 05:52


Originally Posted by Sub Orbital (Post 10327363)
Dick, you have stated you may be interested in running for federal parliament in Bronwyn Bishop's old seat. Have you considered running in McCormack's seat of Wagga? That could put the cat amongst the pigeons. It is considered a "safe" seat but remember the Liberals do not contest it. Just a thought.

Independents & fringe dwellers do well in Riverina .... not.

http://results.aec.gov.au/20499/Webs...-20499-250.htm

He's a local from way back; difficult to unseat.

Lead Balloon 4th Dec 2018 08:56

Dick’s made the threat, a few times before, to run against someone important. Dick’s threatened, a few times before, to try to unseat someone important.

It’s too late, this time around, even assuming he means it.

There are too few sitting days between now and the next election to get any substantial changes made to any legislation. If he means to run and gets elected, one vote as a parliamentarian would make little difference. If he means to unseat McCormack, one seat would make little difference even if Dick manages it.

Maybe he’ll fall (yet again) for some task force or other blankets-and-beads promise in return for not carrying through with any threat.

The time for Dick to use his leverage is two years before the election after the one coming up soon. That’s when he should threaten to publicly advocate for a vote for anyone but the major parties unless specified legislative changes are made.

Dick worries that the outcome would be a minority government. He doesn’t understand that if he gets his timing right and uses his leverage properly, he’ll get the changes he wants. Then he’d not have to carry through with his threat.

Very frustrating to see his substantial leverage used so ineffectively.

Nulli Secundus 4th Dec 2018 10:19

Three billboards in Wagga! This exercise is to advocate a better future for GA in Australia, but yet from the same person, this:

Mr Smith said his advice to (local Gympie instructor) Paul Mckeon was to get out of the aviation industry - The Australian 28/8/2018. Dick Smith, in light of your advice for everyone to get out of general aviation, why should people not rule out this billboard campaign as simply an exercise in self promotion and an effort to remain relevant in the GA industry and the public view? Do you intend to get out of aviation yourself with immediate effect? If not, as it continually appears, how do you justify otherwise, given such inconsistent positions?

Dick Smith 4th Dec 2018 13:34

It is totally consistent. If the ACT remains the same I see no future in GA.

If the ACT changes it must mean that the Minister has an intention to make changes and reduce costs. Most importantly it would show a parliament that wanted change and would go against the views of an entrenched bureaucracy.

In in that case there is a good chance that GA , especially flight training would boom.

I stated that I would stand in Bronwyn Bishops seat if she was preselected. She was not preselected so I did not stand.

The ads are costing me about $25k. If I wanted more self promotion I would put my own photo on them- not the Deputy PMs photo! Der!

No. I do not intend to get out of aviation. I fly privately and can afford the high costs.

jonkster 4th Dec 2018 21:12

I wonder how many people are employed in the Oz GA industry? **

What contribution does GA make to both the economy and the community generally?

Not easy to get those numbers but ballpark?

I would like to see the GA sector be publicised as an important industry to the country. If people recognise it as important, it becomes harder for governments to ignore issues in that industry and attractive for oppositions to take up their cause.

3 billboards outside Wagga would have a greater impact if the public was aware that GA was an important contributor to the economy and big contributor to society generally. Not a criticism of the billboards but a comment on how to make anything we do to highlight industry problems more effective.

** my estimates... all guesses, feel free to be critical:
GA (employed) pilots/Instructors: 5000?
Flight crew 500?
Air Services (this shared between GA and RPT so estimate 1/4 for GA?) 800?
CASA staff needed due existence of GA: (say 1/4 for GA): 200
Engineers/Apprentices (1 per 5 pilots?) 1000
Non flying trainers/instructors: 500?
Admin: (1 per 5 pilots?): 1000
Logistics/Supply chain: (1 per 20 pilots?): 250
Others? 500?

so say around 10,000 people who are directly employed in GA? If that reasonable and assume an average salary $50k - that is roughly a $500 million p.a. industry.

What we get in return to society, obviously jobs but also:
training of pilots, aircrew and professional staff for not just GA but for the whole air transport industry (including training of overseas students with associated contribution of foreign capital to our economy),
search and rescue services,
aerial ambulance services,
fire fighting and prevention services and support,
transport (goods, services and passengers) particularly for remote and regional areas,
media/press services,
recreational activities,
resource exploration,
environmental monitoring,
support for industries requiring unusual access,
power and pipeline inspections,
agricultural services etc etc.

I have no idea if my $ numbers are reasonable but if we really do have a half billion dollar industry - we really should be making that known!
(ie headlines like: "Government crippling 1/2 $Billion industry!" or "Government makes vital regional services un-financial")

Vag277 4th Dec 2018 22:24

See here https://bitre.gov.au/publications/2017/files/cr_001.pdf

Paul O'Rourke 5th Dec 2018 06:31

Dick is on Credlin, Sky News now, saying he is running for the seat of Mackellar in Northern Sydney.

aroa 5th Dec 2018 21:37

Government cripples a 1/2 billion dollar General Aviation Industry...and has spent a billion doing it. !
Jobs and growth...not in GA !


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