Oz,
ASIC certainly was a major problem, but the nonsense CASA went on with over licenses was, at times, unbelievable.
I refer to the requirements to establish (in hard copy) that a visiting pilot actually had a license, and if the National Authority did not precisely comply, in all minute detail, with "CASA Requirements", a potential visitor's license would not be recognized. In the FAA case, (then) you could look up all the details on the FAA web site, but no, it had to be to CASA requirements and in the form prescribed by CASA, and a screen print didn't do it.
Another nasty little angle was "validation flight tests", with the organisation "designated" by CASA. Result, the poor visitor being confronted by inflated hourly rates and ridiculous hours counts.
In reality, CASA "mates" getting some particularly profitable business.
For example, a US airline Captain, flying to Australia regularly, and, of course with an ATR/Multi/Land/Instrument and a string of other qualifications, including A&P/AI, and CFI including the then FAA equivalent of an ATO, being "required" to do a minimum of five hours dual on a light twin??
Tootle pip!!