By
LAC Bruce Brown
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FLGOFF
Andrew Koop – who once thought of becoming a politician
– in the office of Queensland’s Member for Ryan Michael
Johnson.
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WGCDR
Rowley Tompsett in the corridors of Parliament House with
South Australian Senator Alan Ferguson.
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Photos
by LAC Bruce Brown
|
Walking
the halls of power has changed the perception two Air Force officers
have of oft-maligned politicians.
“Politicians are the hardest working people,” said Wing Commander
Rowley Tompsett after spending time with South Australian Senator
Alan Ferguson.
WGCDR Tompsett, who is based in DCOORD in AFHQ, was one of six
participants who took part in the recent annual ADF Parliamentary
Program.
Two officers from each Service participated in the exchange program.
Under the program, parliamentarians were also attached to various
ADF units and their experiences ranged from flying in an F/A-18
and patrolling with NORFORCE.
Time spent with the Senator has shown WGCDR Tompsett that politicians
perform a lot of work the public never sees; it is not all arguments
and disputes, but the business of government being reached by
consensus of the parties.
He also noticed that good time management is one of the major
factors in politicians’ busy days. The other Air Force officer
to take part in the program was Flying Officer Andrew Koop,
an engineering officer at Special Purpose Aircraft Management
Unit at Defence Establishment Fairbairn.
FLGOFF Koop, who previously thought of becoming a politician,
spent a week with Member for Ryan Michael Johnson. He also gained
an appreciation of politicians’ day-to-day work, particularly
the long hours and isolation.
WGCDR Tompsett believes younger middle-ranked officers who will
be involved with parliamentary committees and the workings of
Government should nominate for the ADF Parliamentary Program.
“It is an investment in their future,” he said.
