Walrus 7, you have just made out the case of why it should be properly consulted with the industry, and why a paper should have been prepared showing the pros, the cons and the cost.
Also, if Flightwatch provides a safety benefit and has a cost, it is very simple to do a cost benefit safety study (which can be totally transparent and public) to convince people in the industry of the Airservices point of view.
Driscoll, your post is simply mind boggling! If what you are saying is true – and I have no reason to doubt it – it is criminal that the rated controller leaves the console for up to 20 minutes and doesn’t inform the pilots in the controlled airspace which is being serviced.
I wonder if the Board members of Airservices Australia realise the implications of that? As someone recently mentioned, they probably don’t read PPRuNe or even know what it is.