[P7_TOM]

Barmen, Barristers, Barbers and even the humble 'Plod' on the beat can tell a fiction from a fact: eventually. The tell tale signs are obvious to those who deal with 'stories' told. Then, there are the 'versions' of tale. An old and valued friend of mine has 'a system'. It was explained to me more decades ago than I care to remember; and, with use, has been proven to be reliable 95% of the time –and a useful guide for the remainder. It is a simple enough construct; listen once and pay attention; then after the 'story' has been told five times; an inkling of the 'truth' may be gleaned – then ask the questions – the shift in and variations of the tale become clearly apparent.

I refer now to the 'Buckley' saga. There has never been a 'shift' in the GB narrative; well, not a discernible one at least. The CASA version is a moving feast of variation, spin, obfuscation, legal niceties and horse manure. This is backed up by careful research of data provided – not by Buckley, but from the very bowels of a very slippery, carefully modulated 'legal' wriggle room response.

The legal tentacles serve but one purpose – to bind and bleed. Buckley simply cannot match the fire power and wriggle room CASA will throw up in defence of their own. A decade and ten million may just put a dent in the CASA defence – maybe.

So, an alternative solution to taking on a bunch of professional twisters of the law (remember who penned that law) must be found; or, perhaps someone, with a grain of integrity could quietly sort the mess out and square the books.

I say a directive from the PM &C to 'sort it out' will save a whole world of ministerial embarrassment. Buckley may fade away; rubbed out by this and that – but his story and that of the many others which have parallels will not. Not while I can hold a glass they won't.

Far too many have been consigned to the CASA scrapheap – on their say-so alone, unchallenged, through lazy, minister supported, politically motivated face saving positioning.

CASA can sit back under the ministers umbrella; once they have stumped up to Com Care the measly 'premium' of $100, 000 then they have automatic access to as much money as it takes to 'win' a legal opinion in their favour. One goes to court for 'the law' not justice (boy). Buckley writes letters in his tea breaks – CASA just tip it all onto some of the finest, government employed legal minds and the tax payer picks up that tab....Strewth, talk about knives to gunfights.

Time someone with clout stepped in – it would be less expensive to 'square' Buckley. Cleaner and more sensible – just from a tax payer perspective; before we mention stuff like injustice or a fair go. CASA for some strange, esoteric reason shut him down and broke the heart of a honest man. The 'facts' are self evident – everything else cover up.

Shame, shame, shame on you Minister. I've scraped better of my boot heel.

Yes please Miss – keep 'em coming – I've something stuck in my craw – best flush it out.