When you say stymie progress are you saying that Australian ATCs are deliberately delaying the implementation of Class D?
The current level of staffing within Airservices is diabolical and the reclassification of GAAP to D has the effect of requiring more controllers than currently staff these GAAPs. Airservices has no plan, no recruitment process and will blame any delay on the controllers rather than accept that the problem and the solution lie squarely with them.
Controllers make the current structure work, not ASA, and the fact that Australia still has many dedicated and professional controllers is testament to thier desire to provide a SAFE and efficient service. No I am not saying Class D is unsafe, just that it requires increased staffing at GAAP and maybe the other towers, to be done safely.
Oh and by the way - the controllers employed overseas are not ASA controllers, they are US citizens employed by the ASA branch responsible. The US will not allow other than US citizens to work American airspace. The training and rating of these people is done by the FAA.
You may find it amazing but working in Europe you realise how good the Australian ATC system is - when fully staffed - and how sound the procedures are. I recently heard tell that a certain European hub max's out at 60 per hour with parallels and a 3rd runway purely for arrivals. Compare that with SY and you will find that Australia is not the backwater for procedures and controllers you may paint Dick.