Silverstone dodges Senate questioning

Was the Major-General protecting the timorous Brigadier?

The Desert Rat was looking at transcripts of the Senate Committee of Inquiry into the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity and noticed Corruption and Crime Commission were listed to give evidence.

The Committee seemed to the Desert Rat, to be going through the motions. The transcript of evidence revealed most was rehashed material already in their 2008 Annual Report. CCC supremo Major General Robert-Smith fielded all the questions and his responses were about as dry and interesting as camel dung.

Just towards the end of Roberts-Smith's comments, the Desert Rat realised that the Executive Director Brigadier Mike Children Overboard Silverstone was at the Major General's side but hadn't uttered as word during the long and boring session. The Desert Rat only knew because Roberts-Smith asked the Chair for Silverstone to be excused!

Mr Roberts-Smith— Madam Chair, I wonder if Mr Silverstone could be excused at this stage.

He has an urgent commitment elsewhere.

CHAIR— Of course. Thank you very much.

Mr Silverstone— Thank you.

CHAIR— We will shortly be winding this up, but I do have a couple of quick questions. I note that the parliament committee has a formal role in promoting integrity in the public sector. What does it actually do?

There are a number of explanations for Roberts-Smith talkativeness and Mr Invisible Mike Silverstone's silence.

One is that Roberts-Smith has no confidence in Silverstone answering questions from Senators; that Silverstone is a timorous and shy beastie who now lacks any confidence; or that he was just there to waste taxpayers money and was possibly asleep.

For someone that has been paid about $1 million dollars in salary since being at the CCC, it must be retirement after military retirement for Brigadier Mike Silverstone.

The Desert Rat wonders if Mike Silverstone is double dipping by collecting an army pension as well as an inflated CCC salary.