[P7_TOM]

Dead horses and the flogging thereof..

Sandy - “One only has to go back to the hopeful days of the Forsyth Report in 2014 where some 35 recommendations were adopted by Government but never carried through by CASA.”

Don't know how much 'true belief' there was back in 2014; even the 'hope' was akin to an aircrew going down on a 'wing and a prayer'. The last whispered words of a rapidly diminishing industry. The Rev Forsyth and the Senators did their jobs, very well indeed; but: my Tote ledger showed – clearly – that those who backed the real end result were spot on.

Sandy - “That review garnered 269 submissions from an excellent cross section of the GA community including submissions from most of the various aviation associations.” The next call for submissions came from Senator McDonald’s Parliamentary committee which decided to delve into the woes of GA, an inquiry to take two years which fizzled out with practically no result at the last change of government.”

McDonald was always on a 'hiding to nothing' – bet 20 to win one – for the new government to carry the inquiry further; 50/1 odds on it was never heard of again in any meaningful way; once again, history and my tote proved the pudding. There is also a significant, well documented history of Australian aviation administration agreeing to 'do something' after inquiry and international heavy weight conference. The record clearly and unequivocally shows 'agreement' – 'lip service' – then a swift visit to the shredder for the actual proposal while the actual intent is quietly buried alongside other 'great ideas'. The rest of the world march on, from strength to strength under gold standard regulation and sane management – while Australia remains firmly stuck in the same old mud.

The chances of the current parliamentary crowd actually doing 'anything' are in the remote possibility realms of 'odds on'. Even the statistics on the humble forum clearly define the complete lack of meaningful interest. Take a journey back to last Estimates or even check the difference between the Lacking 'reads' and the Chester or McCormack numbers. King is virtually an invisible, silent spectre at the banquet, relying on the three 'Useful Idiots' to keep the lid on the mess.

One has to admire the tenacity, determination and hope of the Australian industry. Whether or not meaningful change, in any format, will happen under the incumbent government is IMO a forlorn hope. The mandarins won't blink unless the minister nods; the CEO's will continue to wallow in clover unless the mandarins get weaving; and, those at the coal face will simply toddle along behind the (ahem) 'leadership' acting as directed and in full rice bowl protection mode.

“Ample evidence M'lud; unimpeachable fact; demonstrable decline, rule of law decimated – and yet this evidence is to be disallowed and dismissed? How is that democratic? How can a government be disconnected from and so completely disinterested in an essential revenue generating industry, with a clear conscience, and remove all hope of essential reform ?”

Toot – toot.  (E&OE) tempus and temper fugit.