[Kharon]

GA midnight approaches.

There are still a couple or three on the UP who’s opinions are worthy of consideration and respect.  Trading under the nom de plume ‘Lead Balloon’ we find one of those few.  Mostly I can agree with much of the good sense advice he offers – however; this call for ‘independents’ is a discussion worthy of a ‘several beers’ wrangle.  

In principal everything stated in the post above above has merit, except the practical reality of life is we are always, for the foreseeable future, going to be in the grip of the ‘major’ parties.

LB – “The practical reality is that while ever the Coalition and Labour effectively take turns in government, they both win every election. Each 'side' merely takes its turn to feast on the treasure of the body politic."

‘Tis true, has always been true and is likely to continue that way for some time yet.  So; the argument:

LB – ‘Short point for you: Don't bother wasting energy on the tweedle dumb and tweedle dumber. The only glimmer of hope for GA lies in the laps of independents like Nick X.”

:whilst technically accurate becomes redundant to purpose.  No matter who wins the next election, it will be one of the major party ministers who picks up the ‘transport’ folio.  That is a racing certainty.  That person will, in theory at least, have control of matters aeronautical; the minders and advisors will remain, for the main part, unchanged.  The advice from those people has changed little and the effect of ‘blood on your hands’ promotes and fosters ministerial terror; well, that and ignorance combined with mystical influence.  

Only the gods know who Labor will inflict on industry.  ‘Tuther crew have selected Chester as front of house. {Side bar}, although the lions share of the aviation section (and the credit for any reform) could well be stolen by Fiona Nash and the infrastructure ‘task force’ (should rumour become fact).  Which could be the best news ever; I digress.

So it begs the question – who, in reality, has the juice to make things change?  The answer is it will be someone from one of the two major players.  It most certainly will not be an independent.  The independents may do mighty works and be of great value but they will not be ‘the’ minister.  Not for a while yet, although I do hold out hope that NX may yet get the numbers needed to run the show.  Selah.

I say industry needs to maintain the call for the incumbent minister to make the desperately needed changes and that is where every particle of pressure, will power, people power and logic needs to be focussed – on that one small, well protected, highly screened, poorly advised, target.  

We have all seen the expertise, determination, logic, rational and solutions industry has provided various ministers fall by the wayside.  We have all seen industry fobbed off with vague promises, tiger teams, ‘committee’, working groups, consultations, conference and survey.  I say it’s up to industry to draw a line in the sand and drag whosoever it is with the power up to that line and make ‘em stand there until things change.  No more smoke, no more mirrors, no fluff, no more consulting, no more wasted time, effort or money.

We, the producers of the revenue that funds the current abomination have had enough. Change the Act, get us a sensible rule set and for the love of all things sane, get us a DAS who will make true reform of the regulator a reality.

Darren Chester is the load, Barnaby Joyce the lever, Windsor the fulcrum.  I forget just now who said it – something about moving the world with a long enough lever.  

Best crack on boys, the clock is ticking down the days to GA midnight. Get to it.

Toot toot.

Good old Google - Archimedes.