The Howard Gov't has perfected the "I was not told" (therefore cannot be held accountable) argument over the last decade. The Public Service will be blamed, some will be slapped on the wrists, but nothing of lasting consequence will come of this Cole Inquiry for the Gov't.

You are right about incompetence and amnesia now being a respectable excuse for ministers, and the construction of a system of plausible deniability by this government. This is largely based around being able to use politically appointed (but taxpayer funded) advisors to filter public service briefings etc. The public service reports to advisors rather than the minister, especially where "political sensitivity" is required.

These advisors at the same time are immune to having to appear before parliament, they are only responsible to their minister. In effect they are not accountable in the Westminster tradition, they do not serve the public but the demands of their minister.

Added to this has been the politicisation of actual appointments in the senior public service, another reason not to fearlessly tell a minister an unpleasant fact he might want to deny knowing about.

However where you Charles, and Blackwatch are quite wrong, is that public servants will be punished. This may happen at minor levels but senior public servants involved in stuff ups like AWB, or the refugees in concentration camps, children overboard, or deported Australian citizens, have not suffered. They have all been promoted. Two are now serving ambassadors!

Likewise with AWB, remember the brief of the Royal Commission is to ascertain the responsibility of AWB, specifically not that of the government. A finding or charge against the government is not possible. At best the government may get some embarrassment if the AWB is allowed some diminished responsibility because the govt is seen to have encouraged by inaction (and the odd knowing wink) its activities. And of course we all know how much John Howard responds to being exposed and embarrassed, not at all. Indeed, despite Cole's brief not allowing the government to be condemned, don't be surprised if the PM later claims the Commission's findings prove his govt innocent.

View the thread I started here

http://www.bleedingedge.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2484

It's interesting what people think. It's also more interesting what people think about others - I'm sure someone posting there thought I was an apologist for the Howard Government. Far from it.

I just think it's sad that the calibre of political debate in this country has fallen to a level where it's akin to those espousing fundamentalist Christianity - you're either with us or you're against us.

We've forgotten how to ask the right questions - and we've forgotten to demand the laudible standards of our politicians that once prospered under Westminster.

It's follow the yellow brick (party) line - singing a song and avoiding any problems.