Now the mainstream news.com.au (front page) has a hold of the story...
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22993355-2,00.html
Scathing letter outlines safety threat...
Situation compared to that of Africa...
Authority denies safety compromised...
Lack of adequate staffing blamed...
Authority rejects claims of mismanagement, safety risk
Airservices spokesman Terry O'Connor admitted there was a shortage of trained controllers, but he rejected claims of mismanagement and said safety was not at risk.
"We're aware of the issues they have raised. It's something that's been a potential concern for us for some months," Mr O'Connor said.
"But this suggestion that we're somehow trying to hide the situation is simply not true."
Peter Gibson, a spokesman for Australia's air safety regulator, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, said he was not aware of a shortage of air traffic controllers.
"Shortages are the job of Airservices Australia to manage," Mr Gibson said. "Our responsibility is to make sure whatever they do is done within the appropriate safety standards."
Airservices said that it had increased its intake of trainees and was looking at trying to attract controllers from overseas.
Should be an interesting year for Australian ATC; both ATC and Canberra. Good luck.