IMHO, all this "shortage" of experienced staff in Australian Government Departments and Agencies can be traced back to PM and C and Treasury decisions from the early 1980s.
Some "brightspark" suddenly realised that the "unfunded superannuation" for all the APS was so horrendous and potentially financially crippling, that firstly "we" will change the APS over to new Super scheme (PSS) from the "old" CSS. The smart ones didn't budge!
Then because the "take up" was so poor, "we'll" embark on a program of VR's so that we will shed all oldies between 45 and 55.
I was in a Section of a department where one VR exercise saw over 1000 man-years of experience pushed out the door!!
Subsequent "fly-by-night" managers have continued this exercise until the departments now are without "experience and history".
All that counts now for a senior manager is "Risk Management" (will I get hauled before the Coroner if it goes pear -shaped), their Performance Agreement and their salary package. Public Service can go take a running jump!!!
Governments like taxing the people but they hate spending money!
Good luck Pilots - you are being "risk managed!!"
Mike McInerney