[Peetwo]

RRAT Estimates 14/02/22 - DIRDT&C (Aviation)

Here is the HANSARD or the PDF version: Download PDF

Ms Spence: I think I am aware of who you are talking about. I have had some background briefing on it, and, as with everything, there are two sides to this story, so I think—

Senator PATRICK: There are always two sides to these stories, but you are attacking our aviation industry and driving it into the ground. There will be no safety incidents because there will be no aircraft.

CHAIR: That's right.

Senator PATRICK: And this parliament has expressed a really clear view that you need to take into consideration our ability to grow our general aviation back, and you're not doing that.

Ms Spence: We're very committed to general aviation. We've been working—

Senator PATRICK: That's just a platitude! Let's see it grow.

Senator McKenzie: Chair, can I just intervene and remind everyone that respect—

Senator PATRICK: There are people who are really angry about this, Minister.

CHAIR: And this has been years.

Senator McKenzie: I understand anger, Senator Patrick, and probably a little more than you would actually appreciate. What I am asking for is a little civility and a little respect—irrespective of the substantive issue—for the officer that is here.

CHAIR: That's what's missing for these pilots and businesses who have just been destroyed. This pilot has admitted that he didn't get his medical done in time, and that started an avalanche.

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Ms Spence : As I said, I would much rather give you a more detailed answer once I have all the facts in front of me. As for the point around pilots and LAMEs, that is something we're looking at very closely through the general aviation workplan that we're developing, which won't just be platitudes—we are identifying specific issues and working through the issues that have been raised with us. It will be a public document, and people can hold us to account and measure our performance against what we say we'll do.

Senator PATRICK: Make sure you name some of the people involved inside CASA, because we have a situation where this happens again and again and again, and there is an immunity that sits behind you as the CEO. If your officers are doing the right thing, they won't have any difficulty being named, and if they are doing the wrong thing they ought to be named as well. People need to understand who these people are that are basically attacking our general aviation industry.

Ms Spence : I appreciate what you're saying, but I also want to stand up for the organisation that I work for. There are many people who are incredibly passionate about aviation who work in CASA. I know people hear stories about people who aren't doing the right thing, but the vast majority of the people who work in CASA are committed to aviation. I just want to get that on the record.

Senator PATRICK: How do we get to the situation that we get to?

CHAIR: And why does nothing ever happen to the people who are doing the wrong thing?

Ms Spence : I would argue that's not the case.

Senator PATRICK: How many people has CASA fired for overreach? That's a reasonable question.

Ms Spence : We look to make sure that we operate consistently with what our regulations require.

Senator PATRICK: I am happy for you to take the question on notice. It's a genuine question.

Ms Spence : I'm very happy to take that on notice.

Senator PATRICK: Thank you. I suspect it's none.

Ms Spence : What I'm saying is that we do take action in relation to suggestions about people going beyond what the regulatory framework requires.

Senator PATRICK: Maybe you can also give us the number of people who have been subject to administrative action inside your organisation as well.

Ms Spence : Yes.

CHAIR: Thank you. I will pass this on to you, Ms Spence, and I wish you luck, because I think the culture in your organisation is rotten. If your investigators and the rest of the staff lived in the regions and worked with these pilots, and if they weren't all obsessed with focusing on Qantas and Virgin and the big end of town and they understood what it was like to operate a regional business in a regional place under the extraordinary pressures that we've put them through through regulation, you might have half a chance.

Plus Sandy via the UP:

Blueyonda “I may have interpreted this incorrectly, under a line of questioning that Ms Spence could not answer, she did say someone might be able to rush in and provide the answer (my words,) as in someone in her immeadiate vicinity. But alas, silence.”

I think your interpretation quite correct, more than that it’s common practice for the underlings to pass up helpful briefing papers or chime in with an offer of assistance without being asked.

Twice now we’ve been witness to the same extraordinary spectacle of the highly paid CEO of CASA coming to a public Senate hearing not being prepared. It truly beggars belief, imagine the US, NZ UK or Canadians looking at this disgraceful display of incompetence. And I’m sure they’d be thinking, as I do, your Parliament set up this corporate in the attempt to relinquish responsibility so what do you expect?

The fact that the CEO Ms Spence has failed to learn about the most pressing issues, and shies from responsibility by citing ‘that was before my time’ is exemplified by her treatment of Glen Buckley.

Instead of ascertaining the facts from her $500,000 pa Managers about Glen’s unjustifiable treatment and then making her own judgment Ms. Spence handballs to the Ombudsman, again.

Perfectly predictable; because this is how Government Industries works when Parliament reneges on its responsibility.

The aversion by Parliament, and many Members (2009 Albo rids his Ministry of the ATSB), to the responsibility conferred by our Constitution and the Westminster tradition is manifest in the arrogance of senior Public Sector managers. The current Estimates is such a good example and not just about CASA. The head of ASIO upbraids a Senator by accusing her of making an inappropriate question.

This whole trajectory, give all the tricky bits to ‘independent’ Ombudsman offices, Commissioners, ICACs and Commonwealth corporations like CASA, ATSB, ASA, Infrastructure Australia even Meat Australia, and many others, has become a major impediment to good governance and free enterprise.

The shift in power, the unseen revolving doors PS employment cross pollination and the many $billions in fat salaries and great working conditions are at stake and driving the body politic.

Finally, it is we the voters who elect representatives. If we sit back, don’t engage with them, don’t go to meetings, don’t write critiques, don’t talk to media but only throw brickbats and epithets then who is to blame?

As an aside, with relation to the competence of the CEO Su_Spence, I may be missing something but I note that from page 189 of the CASA 2020-21 Annual Report that Su_Spence's 'base salary', for the period of 17 May 2021 to 30 June 2021, is listed as $105,246. This equates to PS being paid $17,541 per week or $912,132 PA. Given the Su_Spence performance at Estimates on Monday and at her previous appearance in the GA Inquiry on the 7th December 2021, plus the ongoing weasel words in the latest and previous bollocks CASA briefings, I have to say industry and taxpayers seriously deserve a refund?? - 

MTF...P2