The safest point for GA was around the late 80s and 90s, then since the 2000s the rate of accidents has climbed significantly. That considering the busiest ever time for GA was around the late 80s and 90s, with record numbers of movements at the main airports which we are still well below now, but we have an increase in accidents. As I've said before during this time the focus was on whether a pilot was 'safe', using assessment methods like 'would you let someone you love fly with them' as a mark of whether they were ready for solo or a PPL test. Since 2000 a drain on experience combined with a woeful introduction of a complicated box ticking culture moved the training outcomes away from 'are they safe' to 'have all the boxes been ticked'. Which in theory should have a positive effect, but unfortunately having too many competencies has most likely taken weight away from the most important fundamental things that a pilot must remember.
And this has nothing to do with being Oztranauts, as Australia might have a heap of pilots that think they know what they are doing, however the accident rate (in light aircraft) now is no different to places like the US, maybe worse.
The sad part is that the aircraft have had all sorts of gizmos over the last 20 years that should have reduced the accident rate further. Things like GPS to avoid getting lost, and better awareness of terrain, and better avionics that should help a competent pilot if they do get into IMC while VFR, as well as greater ATS coverage on RADAR using ADSB. Now we are seeing a big increase in stall spin accidents, and mid air collisions, which shows the basics of flight are just not being pushed hard enough.