You've said it in your piece - the author made an incorrect statement, but the point that is being made is valid.
Sure the Administrator of the GG signs off on the regulations. But what a vacuous set of regulations they are. Look at the new regs -they are littered are gems like this:
(3) The operator and the pilot in command of an aeroplane for a flight each contravene this subregulation if:
- (a) a requirement prescribed by the Part 121 Manual of Standards in relation to conducting flights [insert subject here] applies to the aeroplane for the flight; and
- (b) the requirement is not met for the flight.
It's very clear the intent of this. The regulations give CASA the power to write anything in the MOS it likes without any political checks or balances. No the MOS is not technically regulation, but for an operator it's the only way to comply. Not what you'd call "confetti".