Sigh...at this rate we should rename this thread 'Why RAAF pilots are leaving'.
A sign of any organisations ability to make real, lasting cultural change is the ability to make hard decisions when times are good. (Its easier when its bad, because you are forced to) Air Force HQ has failed this test and will continue to fail it. Binnie will not save you, he is the product of the same system that produced the rest of the system maintainers. The pathetic retention bonus that was thrown at everyone at years start and the dead in the water pilot retention review are clear signs of this.
Remember the good times, there's no point worrying and making yourself upset. If you got out, make the most of your new life. If you didn't and are waiting to leave, don't worry, all recessions end. If you do stay, then maybe, just maybe, you'll have the balls to do what needs to be done.
Loiter has it right. The system is broken due to neglect and the current lot are for the status quo and will jump on anyone who has ideas for real change. The underlying principal of RAAF career management remains sound however. Pump 100 pilots through to make 50 SQNLDR QFIs/FCIs/SMEs to make 20 WGCDR COs to make 10 Groupies to make 6 AIRCDREs to make 3 AVMs for 1 CAF. If 20 of the 100 are civilians or reservists, not destined for higher rank, then the CAF gene pool is diluted and SOME positions up the chain end up being manned by people who shouldn't be there and who make decisions which make the retention problem worse. Anyone else know of a few ex RAAF/RAF guys, now in the airlines who would shake up the service and put it back on the straight and narrow through vision accompanied by an ability to work ridiculously hard?
My suggestion is to restore the attractiveness of the position of CO of a flying squadron. Once again make it the dream job for a pilot in the RAAF/RAF (if it wasn't yours then you are part of the 50 - nothing wrong with that btw). Lavish publicity and cred on the flying squadrons and make them where people want to be (not just pilots). Eventually (and this will take time since so much goodwill has been squandered for so long) junior pilots will see it as a credible alternative to the airlines and there will be a draw through effect. You will get a situation where the Pers staff will have a real choice of people to fill positions. i.e. a healthy, competitive system.
Also I would ask why civilian airline guys would want to fly military? Take the reasons gathered and
PR the s@#$ out of them.