Bush Pelican you said,
I think the Class E over Class D has proven to be safe in practise
The reason Class E over D is being replaced with Class C is the opposite to what "you believe". Lets deal in facts BP, not what you or Dick believe.
The drivel that has been written on this site about a GA pilot not being able to avoid an airliner he has seen and is aware of beggars belief.
Not drivel, BP, but actual fact. Your Chieftain doing 180 knots does not have the speed to get out of the way of a DHC8 doing 300 knots, or a big red jet doing 420 knots. About 40 - 60 seconds is the time it would take you to see the jet, determine if there is a conflict (collision risk), and then take avoiding action. Hence, the jet or dash 8 has to avoid you.
I find it hard to believe that somone with"upwards of 20,000 hours in GA" would think that his Chieftain would be able to avoid a jet, and that the incidents in Class E over D towers is merely a matter of ATTITUDES. You claim to have held an AOC for 24 years. Maybe we should have CASA investigate whether you should continue to hold an AOC given your display of ignorance on aircraft velocities, Safety Management Systems, and airspace procedures.