CASA suffers from these problems.
Not enough funding, career bureaucrats, the want of a Minister who has a relevent aviation background, a heavy reliance on ex police types as investigators and an arrogant beligerant holier than thou approach to all its dealings with the aviation industry. When the VCAT Member or similar whose only experience in aviation is a flight to London for a Contiki tour simply groans and says "If CASA says its not safe theres noting I can do" because you cant afford a QC and years in litigation, nothing can improve.
With proper professional oversight, and a willingness to work with not against those it deals with, safety would improve by leaps and bounds. As it stands, the smaller the operator, the bigger the stick.
At present, it is commercial suicide to self report, seek advice or assistance.
Flying visits by hit squads who concerntrate on wrong parts on wrong shelves, does not say much for the quality of its investigators.
By the same token, idiots in command of aeroplanes, idiots in command of flight schools, idiot mechanics, idiot student pilots, idiot planning Ministers do not make for safe flying.
When you can call CASA and make an anonymous report but can not call and ask for advice anonymously, what hope is there?
The further you go from a capital city, the worse things get from both sides. Over the last 30 years, it all just gets worse. "Pommy Backpacker" mentality reigns supreme, get em up, give em a thrill, get another load up. Mind you, if the pommy backpacker asked to see a license or a log book, no one would get up.
Most of these issues would be resolved by investment in technology that monitors maintenance, repairs, licenses, hours, weights and measures.
But that would see half of the bludgers on the public payroll made redundant overnight.