I heard the same thing a few months back via one of our companies training Captains.
To avoid paying pilots were requesting to track e.g. via HWS for a visual approach.
Didn't believe it, sounded crazy to me so I checked it out on the ASA web site.
They only charge for a instrument approach if a landing charge is not involved.
In other words if a landing is conducted off a practice instrument approach the landing charge covered the approach.
However if you are training and conduct multiple approaches without landing off each one you will bare the cost which is equivalent to a landing fee. Determined by weight.
If I can find the page I will post it on here later.
Try this
<a href="http://www.airservices.gov.au/services/price/Std.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.airservices.gov.au/services/price/Std.pdf</a>
Section 3.1 above 5700kgs
[ 16 January 2002: Message edited by: Balinda ]
[ 16 January 2002: Message edited by: Balinda ]</p>