BUSHY
I'm no legal expert, but in reading the CIVIL AVIATION ACT, it seems to me that this document stipulates that THE ONLY BASIS on which CASA may make a ruling is one of safety - ie. rulings based on commercial considerations are absolutely ILLEGAL.
As you said (and as I have seen) commercial pressure is one of CASA's favorite tools when attacking an operator they have simply decided (rightly or wrongly) "needs to go".
CR