First of all one has to read that article very carefully before saying there will never be a pilot shortage in Australia. It’s not saying that. What it is really saying is we are experiencing a looming shortage of experienced pilots. Big difference.
Secondly there is a hidden agenda behind it.
Flight schools believe a generation of would-be Australian pilots is being discouraged from committing to courses because the flight component of training is not covered by the HECS program and can cost between $50,000 and $100,000.
They are using the looming shortage of experienced pilots as an excuse to try and get the government to fund through the HECS scheme, pilot training. With the articles information coming from AOPA Australia and a large number of flying schools being members of this organisation, it is quite obvious what is going on here. After all AOPA is lobby group.