Gallacher steps up.
There are some among us - ‘brung up proper’ – who understand the skills and tactics of the traditional “Aunt-Sally” game. ‘Tis an ancient, honourable ‘team’ pass time which requires tactics and some skill. Guile, cunning and accuracy are essential elements; if the very small, distant target ‘pin’ is to be knocked out of it’s retaining bracket; which is essential. Now, the Senate team are premier league.
Senator GALLACHER: "Okay, but, see, this is a two-part question. How do you achieve value for money retrospectively? And what about your major silent partner in this exercise? Is anybody on the board prepared to put on the record what Defence's position is in respect of value for money?"
Hansard – words only –does not do justice to a pitch made by Gallacher during the Senate v ASA Top Cover team match. You need to study the ‘vision’ to appreciate the Gallacher skill. Watch the tape through to about 00:57 then watch as the bomb drops. Gallacher is directing the question to the tow headed Rothwell (Yorkshire? Man) who’s head comes up in panic desperate for help as all the warning lights flash on. The noises made by he fellah on the other side of Who’stoblame (Marchant) @ 01:00 to about 01:02 are a classic. Inarticulate, breathless, basic (Oh’ Duck) noises made to fill in a very pregnant pause.
Now then, Marchant is good, make no mistake; top drawer and once he realised that the Gallacher throw had unseated the pin he was almost quick enough to prevent the points being scored – almost.
It took about two seconds for him to come up with a ‘pat’ answer to gain the time needed: Alas. FWIW, below is a text book non response to a question which, sooner or later, is going to require a proper answer.
Mr Marchant : “There is no retrospective approach to value for money, as you have suggested. What we have moved to is an open-book reassessment of all the cost bases and all the return framework: an open book. We have learned the issues from the US and elsewhere and have gone back and said that we want to make sure that the specifications, design and criteria that are in the process actually line up with Defence's and our absolute expectations. That was one of the failings in the US; it blew out by billions of dollars because what was promised and what they got weren't in alignment. So we've stopped going to contract until we get the definition and design absolutely right, and it is absolutely in agreement with Defence and ourselves.”
Choc Frog throw Senator; in slow motion, the looks of consternation, shock and horror as the Aunt Sally pin goes flying are priceless. Nicely played Sir, indeed.
Toot toot.
There are some among us - ‘brung up proper’ – who understand the skills and tactics of the traditional “Aunt-Sally” game. ‘Tis an ancient, honourable ‘team’ pass time which requires tactics and some skill. Guile, cunning and accuracy are essential elements; if the very small, distant target ‘pin’ is to be knocked out of it’s retaining bracket; which is essential. Now, the Senate team are premier league.
Senator GALLACHER: "Okay, but, see, this is a two-part question. How do you achieve value for money retrospectively? And what about your major silent partner in this exercise? Is anybody on the board prepared to put on the record what Defence's position is in respect of value for money?"
Hansard – words only –does not do justice to a pitch made by Gallacher during the Senate v ASA Top Cover team match. You need to study the ‘vision’ to appreciate the Gallacher skill. Watch the tape through to about 00:57 then watch as the bomb drops. Gallacher is directing the question to the tow headed Rothwell (Yorkshire? Man) who’s head comes up in panic desperate for help as all the warning lights flash on. The noises made by he fellah on the other side of Who’stoblame (Marchant) @ 01:00 to about 01:02 are a classic. Inarticulate, breathless, basic (Oh’ Duck) noises made to fill in a very pregnant pause.
Now then, Marchant is good, make no mistake; top drawer and once he realised that the Gallacher throw had unseated the pin he was almost quick enough to prevent the points being scored – almost.
It took about two seconds for him to come up with a ‘pat’ answer to gain the time needed: Alas. FWIW, below is a text book non response to a question which, sooner or later, is going to require a proper answer.
Mr Marchant : “There is no retrospective approach to value for money, as you have suggested. What we have moved to is an open-book reassessment of all the cost bases and all the return framework: an open book. We have learned the issues from the US and elsewhere and have gone back and said that we want to make sure that the specifications, design and criteria that are in the process actually line up with Defence's and our absolute expectations. That was one of the failings in the US; it blew out by billions of dollars because what was promised and what they got weren't in alignment. So we've stopped going to contract until we get the definition and design absolutely right, and it is absolutely in agreement with Defence and ourselves.”
Choc Frog throw Senator; in slow motion, the looks of consternation, shock and horror as the Aunt Sally pin goes flying are priceless. Nicely played Sir, indeed.
Toot toot.