With the same logic shouldn't the pilots also be working for the government- bit like Aeroflot.
No Dick, that is a straw man argument.
I have said it before and I'll say it again. The ATC system, as it has evolved, exists ONLY because of and for the benefit of high density RPT Passengers/aircraft.
As such the 'Users' in 'User Pays' are the commercial passengers sat in the back of regional and domestic/international mainline aircraft. The 'Users' are also the tax payers of Australia who demand a safe aviation transport system to base an economy on.
If every GA aircraft disappeared from the face of the earth tonight the ATC system would remain essentially unchanged from tomorrow onwards. If every transport category aircraft likewise fell off the planet tonight the ATC system would be redundant
in its entirety 5 seconds later.
That is why in the US (remember them - the system you never shut up about how good it is?) funds the
Federal Aviation Authority - a non profit
Government department through a system of ticket taxes on the airlines and a minimal fuel tax on everyone else.
That is the only fair system...anything else is despicable spin from dishonest politicians (tautology?).
Note we already pay fuel tax...and GST on that fuel tax...double taxation!!!!!