Having worked with Australian LAMES and operated as a professional engineer in the management of an Australian airline I can say that the Professor is wrong.
Australians are a cut above the rest in this area. The Americans slavishly follow the book as i "Buddy, I do it as per plan"
The British do what they are told.
The Asians do what will let them keep face.
It's only the Australians who will say "What the f&*k's this? Something's wrong here."