[Peetwo]

Wagga Summit - Let's not do the 'timewarp again'.

Extract from this week's SBG...  : A rustling – in the bushes? 

...I ramble: – point is there needs to be a healthy tension between parties in the lower house. No problem at ‘committee’ or inquiry level, where they seem to be able to focus on a narrow ‘band’ in the true spirit and intent of a bi-partisan ideal; but elsewhere, it is not too good a thing methinks. But, the silence of those reading the wind and sniffing the breeze was more than concern for politics – they sense a danger lurking in the bushes, the stealthy approach of something unwholesome. They are right to be apprehensive; no matter what comes into reality at Wagga. The creatures of the deep swamps and denizens of the Sleepy Hollow dark lagoons will not willingly embrace change which they have not generated – not  if it don’t suit ‘em. Some call this the grip of Iron Ring; which many believe will never be broken. It is not in the nature of the beast to simply roll over and say OK minister; we’ll do just as you ask. Gods know, history is loaded with fact that proves categorically that ministers, senators, even top dog mandarins have been bully-ragged into submission by this element.... 

 
In the lead up to the Wagga Summit the underlined statement from "K" should be firmly branded on the psyche of all industry stakeholders that truly give a fig about arresting the decline of the GA sector of the Aussie aviation industry...

However if industry participants of the Wagga Summit feel they need historical point(s) of reference, to remind them how the aviation safety bureaucracy has been taking the 'Mickey Bliss' out of Federal government from both sides of the political spectrum, the following decade look at the expensive, self-serving, ATP funded, obfuscation of political aviation policy of both Labor and LNP governments is (IMO) a disturbing eye opener...  

Quote from the 2007-2008 Dept annual report: 

...This year saw the commencement of a major review of the policy settings for Australian aviation and its regulation. The Department assisted in the development of a wide-ranging issues paper, published in April 2008, seeking comments from the industry and general public by the end of June. The Australian Government intends to release a reen paper (discussion paper) later in 2008, as a basis for further consultation, and to release a final policy statement in 2009.


The broad policy review will build upon two reviews of specific aspects of the regulatory framework that were conducted in 2007-08 with support from the Department.

• A joint industry-government review of reform to the civil aviation regulations examined ways to expedite progress towards an updated and outcome-based set of regulations which are effective in protecting safety standards without imposing unwarranted requirements on operators.
  
  
• An expert review of the working arrangements between the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, as regulator, and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, as independent investigator of accidents and incidents, examined options for legislative or operational changes to improve interaction between the agencies in the interests of the best overall outcomes for aviation safety.
  

Reports of both reviews were published in the first half of 2008. Some of the practical measures identified have been implemented; others will be addressed in conjunction with the broader range of issues raised in the current review process.

The Department also coordinated the response by agencies to a comprehensive audit of Australia's regulatory arrangements by the International Civil Aviation Organization as part of the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program (USOAP). The final report of the audit is yet to be received. While the results are expected to recognise that the arrangements in Australia are among the most advanced, the cyclical audit process provides an opportunity to identify areas for further improvement...

   
Now fast forward to May 2014 when the Abbott LNP Govt was just starting to get into it's stride. The following is a copy of a letter from the former DPM/miniscule Warren Truss to the now DPM/miniscule McNobody...  :

  
Now fast forward to today, a decade after the 2007-8 Dept AR was published, the obvious questions are - What has actually changed? What has been reformed and how has this actually improved the aviation safety standards of Australia? Finally how much has this 'bollocks' bureaucratic charade cost the industry and the ATP? 

So at the Wagga Summit - go in 'eyes wide open'; get a firm commitment from both sides of the political spectrum; and let's not do the 'time warp' again...  


MTF...P2