High Nr
I agree with your sentiment in part.
I disagree that Mackay can be compared to Rocky.
Nigel is right on the money with regard to CASA the ball is in their court, they must take the initiative and if operators aren't going to do the sensible thing then they must regulate to make it happen ergo if a Government/Community want a certain level of service then they must pay. If that level of service is not affordable then a lesser level of service is what you get. By service I mean from Day VFR all they way thru to IFR. You get what you pay for and by regulating, if that is what is required, would, one hopes take out the grey areas which are left open to imaginative interpretation.
CASA's attempts to date have been more or less par for their course. Read into that what you will.