There’s a strong belief in the Galapagos that Australian standard is world standard. Unfortunately because we are so remote and our market is small the investment in the industry through all levels, politics, regulatory, infra structure, technology has been tiny since the 50s. This was exacerbated with the cost recovery policies that arrived about the time the DOT transformed to the CAA and then CASA. The dividend of that period is the current weaknesses in the system characterised by policies and procedures like the one MAS has rattled on about (with a bit of stirring as well!).
Most contemporary Aussie aviators feel as if the system is world class, unfortunately it has become something of a sheltered workshop. Rather than looking inward, taking critique personally and assuming we are ‘best practice’ we should look outward at the bigger systems in the world that passed us by years ago.