from
Testimony (FAA FY 2008 Budget )
By year-end, we expect to have 14,951 controllers on board
and from
Airservices Australia
We employ around 3000 staff, including approximately 900 air traffic controllers
So I'm not surprised that you can state
... they provide a class E approach service using en route controllers.
and
To me, we have what is like a third-world system, ie. in the enroute environment below 8,500 feet even in radar covered airspace we give no air traffic control at all. In other modern aviation countries you get superb air traffic control which uses the radar right to the lower limit of its coverage.
As has been explained to you many times before, it can be done if there are enough ATCOs available to do the job, but ASA
doesn't have enough ATCOs and its' a profession that requires a long training time.