Missed the ABC news.
Pity if someone has gone off sprouting numbers, especially if the amounts are incorrect. As pilots we are generally viewed by the public as highly remunerated, whether this be the case or not. So when someone mentions $5K per month, your average punter probably thinks something along the lines of, "wish I earnt that much", without having any concept of what the profession entails. The only thing the punter needs to know is whether or not they will have an air service.
The real issue is not how much we make, or do not make for that matter. But how much we need to be paid to stay.
And that should best be kept amongst ourselves.