Excellent post Konehead. Paperwork issue, NOT SAFETY ISSUE.
You guys try make it sound like "If I don't get to go pee on time it's a safety issue".
You are overplaying the safety card. Even you should admit, calling the "safety card" on one U/S HF if pretty weak.
One HF sys isn't a safety issue. Even with both HF systems U/S the aircraft could still get back to Aus, so long as it stayed in range of VHF stations, including other aircraft.
The point is, the law is the law and Co. procedure is co. procedure. We have to stick to both. It's a dismissible offence if we don't. But only if it suits the co.
CASA didnt issue a dispensation for this flight number. So QF and the LAME in question has breached CASA regs.