[Peter Lovett]

Look at what the ATSB has been allowed to get away with; examine the absolute untrammelled power CASA has prescribed for its own benefit.  I hope the Senate get serious this time; they only need look at the Staib cartoon vision of the world and compare it to stark, cold reality.  Anecdotally, on balance of probability, the corruption and incompetence exists; perhaps the Senators can develop that notion to ‘beyond reasonable doubt’.  Then, maybe, the blame may be sheeted home to where it belongs.

Between Tick and Tock, hiatus exists.  Time to start the music.

Toot toot..... ...

Thank you for the laugh Kharon. I needed it badly.

Seriously, do you really think the Senate is going to get serious about anything? This morning, as I read what passes for a newspaper in this god-forsaken outpost, I came across what can only be described as a political advertisement for the Liberal members of a couple of constituencies. It confirmed for me something that I read in something far more worthy than one of Rupert's rags; that we are about to go to an election sooner than later. There is nothing like the prospect of losing one's gravy train to concentrate the mind of a politician on what is essential. Their self-preservation so this is no time to rock the boat.

What we are seeing though is nothing more than the continuation of something for which Australia has become the world leader. Have you really given any thought as to why Australia is one of the world's strongest economies? I know that sounds strange but the reality is that we are near the top of the pile but that most Australians don't or can't believe it. The reason we got there is that the Federal governments (of both persuasions) have been gradually decreasing the services they provide while continuing to tax at the same scale and increase what they charge for the little they provide. Because they can, the Feds have been squeezing the States and because they can, they squeeze local government. Meanwhile the potholes get bigger.

What particularly annoys me is that with the (very) occasional exception, this has gone unremarked by our political pundits who continue to wet themselves over the posturing and manoeuvring of our politicians which is a non-event in reality. I recall some years back listening to a political journalist who, unfortunately, plays only on the web these days behind a paywall, who raised this issue which has prompted my musings over the years. Unfortunately, what it means in reality is that politicians don't care what service the governments they serve provides so long as it doesn't bite them in the bum with the public. As to the public, the decline in services is incremental so while we get bitten we don't complain, or at least we don't complain effectively so that the pollies feel it in the bum.

So lets not expect anything to change with our aviation agencies. So long as they are providing a service for as little cost to the government as possible then they are doing exactly what is expected of them. As to the expectations of the aviation server user groups, the government don't give a fig as to that so long as it doesn't affect the prospects of re-election. How that gets changed, I have no idea. I have written here previously that short of a major crash or damming external review it won't change. I would not like to see either but I can't see other options, unfortunately.