Capt Fathom (and others - you know who you are
)- please do us all the courtesy and get off your high horse by questioning "the professionalism" of any view holder with an opinion contrary to your own. This discussion is NOT about your airmanship or decision making ability. I have not seen any contributor on this thread arguing that one should be
"continuing on into a situation of reported deteriorating weather, based on the assumption that
it's above landing minima, we'll get in, is somewhat concerning!"
In fact, it is not "reported" weather information that are being debated here (that would be a METAR or ATIS), but rather the
forecast that is at issue (TAF or TTF).
The rules and regulations on this issue in Australia has been pretty thoroughly demonstrated elsewhere on this thread to be highly nebulous and we wouldn't even be having this discussion in most other ICAO countries, where ALL IFR flight plans must have a valid alternate airport at any time while en route from A to B, regardless of weather conditions.
The reason for Australia's difference from ICAO convention is obviously due to our largely benign weather, combined with the vast distances between some airports where, say making a flight in to Alice Springs or Warburton from the coast under the IFR would be impossible for many aircraft types, if the requirement for an Alternate was vigorously enforced in good weather conditions.
Let us at least do each other the courtesy of respecting the opposing view until and if this issue ever gets properly settled.