ennui... I agree with all you say! But no one can actually justify earning more than the average wage to someone who earns less than they do.
It is simply a fact of life in an open market where people get paid what the market demands.
How can you justify someone getting paid a million dollars just to show up and play a round of golf?
We as pilots have freely taken up a career where we are subject to the vagaries of market forces, for better or worse!
Unfortunately in Australia there has been an over supply of pilots for so long that we have become dysfunctional as a group. We are divided and have been conquered.
Now that there is a shortage of experienced pilots we should see some correction in terms and conditions. However, the companies will now try to prevent this overdue correction by importing cheap labour to artificially keep labour charges lower.
This ultimately prevents new students from entering the market, resulting in less flying schools, instructors, GA pilots etc.... Bad for the industry and economy.
For the sake of the whole industry, Pilots in OZ need to work together to prevent this from continuing.
If that means that airfares have to rise, then so be it.
In the 90's the government tried to bring in foreign workers to man the waterfront at cheaper rates and longer hours. It did not work because the water front workers stuck together! Most of them now earn more money than an F/O in OZ and many Captains.
Australian Pilots are entitled to the same rights as all other Australians and all Australians need to support them in this or no job will be secure.