Well Done Dick!
Congratulations for standing up for aviation and not just taking it lying down like everyone else, airlines included. Why don't they say "NO our PILOTS will need access to that service!!!!"
If you fly VFR or IFR in Australia the Flight Watch Service was just that, a SERVICE. Problem is that AsA couldn't work out how to charge for it so they just got rid of it instead.
We will be stuffed when the drought finally brakes and there is some serious widespread weather to deal and there is simply no one to talk to at the end of the line.
Try teaching students to be proficient and obtaining current information when the ATC don't really want to deal with our requests.