Clowns
Biscuit, there is a good reason why the rules aren't clear. There is a good reason 'opinions', 'personal interpretation', and 'intent' are so prevalent with CASA. The current structure of Australian aviation is a hybrid monster, it is a lawyers creation that has been created with the intent to protect the regulator and government at any cost and prevent them being found to be wrong on any matter. It is a game of stacking all the cards in their favor, they cannot lose.
CASA is not about safety or regulations, it is about individuals self gain, what THEY can get out of the system at any cost. Passenger safety is the last thing on their minds. It is about personal vandettas, payback, persecution and punishment of anybody who dare prove that they are in the wrong or incorrect on a matter. In fact they are a government sanctioned and accepted public service entity granted full power to quite simply do whatever they wish, whether it be right or wrong, fair or unfair, justifiable or unjustifiable, with no accountability to anyone. Here lies the heart of the problem.
Only two things will fix this problem. Some miracle stemming from the senate inquiry or a smoking hole. That is the point we are at. It can be avoided. To use a CASA analogy you need to be proactive not reactive. Well the voices have been shouting out loud from within industry for some time now - FIX THE PROBLEM. CASA has to go. Sadly that would take a proactive approach and the government prefers the reactive approach, so we sit back and await the 'coming day of change', the day that will make everybody from bureaucrat to critic sit up and listen, yep a hole full of smoldering torso's.
TICK TOCK TICK TOCK