Yes, it's beyond a joke. My $50 Australia Post Office special mobile can see light aircraft on a flight radar app (free software) yet a $50 million+ aircraft cannot.
Even basic cheap software such as Oz Runways can show other traffic (and their flight plan) which airliners cannot.
Problem always is regulation. CASA will want to regulate it and ensure that it is 'safe'. This then adds cost to the system which then comes out of some airline executive's bonus.
That fundamental problem in aviation is why is there is virtually no innovation at the high end. 737s are a 1970s aircraft and the A320 is 1980s. That's the level of technology we are dealing with.
Even if there was a major mid air collision in Ballina nothing will change because the
bureaucracy will make it all to hard and too expensive.
The safest option is to drop a few more radar towers in around the place, then if required put in a Control Tower but noone will want to pay for that