The general public could not care less if a pilot is paid $20k a year. Why would they be upset about that? Are they also upset that a hairdressing apprentice only makes $23K a year too, what about the bloke that works at the toll booth in a carpark complex who only makes $27K a year? Why would they care?
The majority of people, whether they fly or not are more interested in the state of origin game tonight rather than pilot wages.
Besides, why should a pilot be any safer if he made an extra ten grand a year? Would they only breach a few safety regulations if their salary went up instead of lots? Wages and good safety culture are not linked up in the case of the GA pilot. Not at all.