One CASA guy told me that the requirement for MELs for single engine day VFR charter planes wasn't the intention when the CAO was written, but I doubt there'll be any changes now. Another CASA guy from the same office grounded a local operator on a ramp check because his primer, which he never uses, was placarded U/S
and he didn't have an MEL.
As has already been said, it's not just the cost, it's the time for the approval. I had a go at writing one from the FAA MMEL and stopped wasting my time when I found out how much CASA were going to charge for the work I had already done
It's not a safety issue, just another stuff up. I reckon it just means that people will be discouraged from putting defects on the maintenance release.