G'Day "S8":-)
ATPL is a contractual requirement. Somebody (or their advisers) within the Govt organization/s felt that having an ATPL is safer no doubt. Bit like the Min hrs req'd for the job,all debatable obviously but that's the way it was thought, well by some anyway.
The RFDS was once considered a career for life but these days it's often used as a stepping stone 'till something else comes along IE: big shinny jets:-)
Hope you all voted for the right party 2day
Wmk2