The discussion of cabin crew ratios is often an interesting one, with many opinions being shared...
For those that haven't had an opportunity to review the CASA proposal, here is a link to the NPRM:
Cabin Crew Ratios - Proposed Amendment to Civil Aviation Order (CAO) Section 20.16.3
The proposal contains more changes than just those related to the ratio and makes for an interesting read.
As 338C indicates, this isn't the first time that a change to the Australian ratio has been proposed. However, this time it is likely to be adopted as CASA has already been permitting the practice through special authorizations. If the Australian ratio does change, it would leave Canada as the only large CAA with a ratio based on the number of passengers carried rather than the number of configured passenger seats. A similar proposal here that would have permitted the option of operating to the existing 1:40 passenger ratio or the proposed 1:50 seat ratio was stopped by the Transport Minister in 2006 following a public campaign opposing the change. An archived version of the website opposing the change can be seen here:
Airline Passenger Safety - Feb 02, 2006
Airline Passenger Safety - Sep 19, 2007
Previous discussions containing some interesting views related to proposed changes to cabin crew ratios in Australia can be found at the following links as well:
PPRuNe Qantas bid to jettison attendants - 2002
PPRuNe Australian F/A's please read - 2005
PPRuNe Australian CC Ratio under threat - 2009
PPRuNe (Virgin) Cabin Attendants reduction - Evacuation Time - 2009