ITZ,
Excellent post. You sum up the tone of aviaition in Australia very nicely.
Pilots spitting for a rating, no guarranteed job at the end, you could be chopped for any pathetic reason like unknownly upsetting the TRE with your accent., last minute fleet/pilot requirements since being hired, whatever, lumbered with a rating and another huge debt.
And pilots looking for handouts or doing part-time jobs do keep solvent.
The pilot massive in Australia seriously need to get some representation and yet again decline the offer to provide your own type rating.
BFB