CC,
Darwin is a RAAF ATC training base.
Give them a brake, you should willingly accept delays and understand we were all there at some stage.
The type of problems you mentioned are extremely common, (we all see them every day in Darwin) as is non standard r/t, and problems coming to grips dealing with STaRs.
Its nothing new, Darwin ATC has struggled to reach a satisfactory standard since Noak was a lad, get used to it.
Think of it like the Bankstown of ATC, after all we aren't paying for the fuel, just donating some of our time to the cause.