Slugfest to answer your question. I think that the service should be provided and that it should be FOC to VFR as it now is.
My point was that Griffo was talking about paying but receiving no service. Well VFR do not pay, simple.
Griffo you obviously have a computer so why fax a plan rather than use NAIPS (free). Or why not hold on to the plan yourself but lodge a SARtime via VHF of HF for free?
Peuce I cannot find the reference at present but basically provision of SAR is mandatory so the Flightwatch-AusSAR link is likely to remain. It would be a "courageous" minister to sign the paperwork removing a USO from existence.
Listening to what the ATCO's on here have to say it appears to be unlikely to happen, not that AsA wouldn't probably love to be able to remove it.