The core problem.
The problems that AsA currently have around sufficient staffing can be traced back to one thing - entrenched government policy.
As a government owned entity the politicians expect AsA to return a profit every year, preferably growing year on year. AsA's stated organisational goal is the safety and expedition of Australian air traffic and the people who work on the front line are absolute disciples when it comes to that stated aim. Unfortunately politicians and the supplicant upper management who do their bidding see AsA as a profit center rather than a collective of professional individuals doing their best to keep the travelling public safe and moving. Expecting a safety organisation to continually return a profit by cutting resources is not consistent with maintaining best practice or building a motivated and professional work force.
The only answer is to move toward the model of Nav Canada which is a non profit, non share holding company with aviation experts dedicated to ensuring world's best practice in everything they do. The proof is in their results. Since 1996 they have moved from being a malfunctioning government department to the world's leading ANSP. Removing the stifling government bureaucracy has released the power of innovation and invention and NC now sells ATC equipment and software to ANSP's around the world, including to AsA. In addition NC are in the process of launching shoe boxed sized satellites into orbit with Space X and once operational these satellites will enable WASS and ADSB coverage across the globe at a fraction of the price it is now.
Nav Canada fund their operations from a floating fee on on every domestic and and outbound international flight ticket. The Canadian public don't mind if it goes up slightly (which it hardly ever does due to NC's other revenue streams) because they know it funds the safest airspace in the world.
Our government cannot continue to keep pulling the rubber band of safety in this country and not expect it to eventually snap. The notion of 'affordable safety' is a misnomer and something government flunkies roll out to a public who don't really want to know how their airfares stay so low. The model is not sustainable and is only held together by the dedicated men and woman staffing the towers and radar screens, flying the planes and maintaining the ageing equipment. Sadly there are other individuals who will seek to exploit and profit from this dedication to safety. This must end.