Dick Smith funds signs in Deputy Prime Minister Electorate
 

An interesting development........

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/bus...dd6a7b?login=1

THE AUSTRALIAN
EXCLUSIVE,
ROBYN IRONSIDE, AVIATION WRITER

29 NOVEMBER 2018

Three billboards outside Wagga Wagga target McCormack Frustration over civil aviation safety laws in Australia has prompted Dick Smith to erect three billboards outside of Wagga Wagga targeting Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack.

Dick Smith's latest mission is three billboards outside Wagga Wagga, NSW. Inspired by Academy Award-winning film Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, the veteran airman will shell out for the billboards to turn up the heat on Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack over civil aviation safety legislation.

Mr Smith wants the current review of legislation to recognise the need for high safety standards must be balanced with the cost of delivery, and be of benefit to civil aviation. Instead, he said, the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Mr McCormack, was insisting on the laws retaining the phrase that "CASA must regard the safety of air navigation as the most important consideration".

"Those words are a lie," Mr Smith said. "Take, for example, the control tower at Wagga Airport. If safety was the most important consideration, it would be staffed, and there would be a fire service stationed at the airport."

He said the "non-negotiable" wording of the legislation was also being applied inconsistently. "When it comes to general aviation, we're told you must do this no matter what the cost because it's a matter of safety. That changes when it is the large airlines who don't want to foot the bill for an ATC tower to be staffed."

The billboards will have Mr McCormack's image with "Stop the lie, update the act, otherwise Australian aviation is doomed".

Mr Smith said they would be put up on the road to Wagga Wagga Airport and remain in place for three months in the lead-up to the federal election. He was unmoved by a commitment secured by Mr McCormack's aviation advisory group that cost would have to be considered when devising safety regulations.

A spokesman for Mr McCormack declined to say whether he would seek to block the billboards being displayed. Mr McCormack has said he was committed to working "on a safe, sustainable general aviation sector".

...and who was it who instigated the push to close towers?

McCormick
 

Good on you Dick Smith. Absolutely anything that can be done to throw McCormick out has to be good for aviation. He is so disconnected from the industry, and really must go. Bring back Barnaby Joyce to head up the Nationals. Ask anyone who our deputy PM is, and no-one knows. Barnaby Joyce is a straight shooter, and actually knows the issues we face. McCormick, stand aside and let Barnaby back in, your days are numbered and you are only prolonging the inevitable. Only then will GA have any chance of surviving in Australia, McCormick, you really are a weak and ineffectual leader. The Nats need strong leadership with an "identity" up the front. Bring back Barnaby!!!!!!!!

Dick, well done. Words are all the industry gets. Roll out the old Labor slogan - "It's time!'

Here is a mock-up of the billboard.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....70d0f9ca82.jpg

Well Done Dick. Great idea. Hopefully when the Government changes hands next year, we may get someone with an idea about aviation. Maybe even a background in Aviation if we are truly lucky.

glenb,
Well said, I could not agree more.
And good on Dick, once again, using his imagination and for doing his very best to support GA.
Tootle pip!!

Not very meaningful to the man on the street.

They don't know what GA is and don't care. We need a campaign to fix that, then highlight the loss of jobs.

It matters none who is in power, GA in Australia is of little importance in the big picture. The Gen public are clueless as to what's going on at the GA level most wouldn't even know what 'GA' even means ! Mr & Mrs Joe pubic only fly on the Airliners & think that anyone who owns a light A/C are rich, we have not got a chance & couple that with CASA's inability to actually be of any use to the GA sector by making everything about flying complex & expensive expect many more long years of declining activity at the GA level! DS means well but it's too little too late:-(

glenb ...update yr spelling..

McCormick ex ceo, "angry man" and perverter of the course of justice to protect his criminal staff, is long gone , thankfully for the industry..
He will always be remembered by me for his fabulous Senate Hearing spray in 2013, where his verbal vomit choked him on his own syntax.

DPM is McCormack. No aviation knowledge or interest. Soon to be a feather duster, hopefully.

Once again Dick puts his money towards the better good. Thanks for that.

Sunfish,
Precisely!!
Tootle pip!!

PS: The "bucket and spade" brigade will still get their cheap fares to Bali etc. with Lion Air, Malindo, Air Asia/Air AsiaX and so on ---- as Malcolm Frazer said to me, many years ago; "Why does Australia need an (international) airline, we don't have a shipping line?"
He had just blocked the QF orders for the B747-338 and the B767s.
Political ignorance is not new.

DS. Just come live in USA, FAA would love it good FAA guys/Gals in Florida. Everyone thinks like you here in Aviation.

Park your airplanes inside at Fort Lauderdale Corporate Jet Centre , get yourself a big Condo overlooking the water. A motor boat 70 footer take it over to Bimini in Bahamas its an hour or two fish on the way each weekend. Take the helicopter for that matter, no stress no worries no anal regulators.

Grab the jet take it down to Caribbean or over to Vegas, Cancun, wherever nothings to far.Go back to Australia every 60-90 days its a great place to visit.

With your circumstance you can take it easy. Come live the American dream like Westfield Lowe and Mr Pratt, 20% tax rate forget Australia put it behind you. I am being honest not joking you will give yourself heart failure in Australia everywhere you turn its a nightmare over regulated.

REMEMBER There is no way of changing Australian Aviation the regulator said Charles Kingsford Smith was not an efficient / fit airman......Many have died trying to fix Australia especially Aviation, the whole place is now rooted she wont be coming back well beyond PNR.

Pity all those resources aren't going into something like funding training scholarships. Who is deputy PM this week anyway?