Precisely what Commonwealth Government Department(s) employ "ASIC Inspectors"? Is it CASA? Do their "Investigators" (term loosely used), have that authority? Thanks.
Security inspectors work for the Office of Transport Security within the Dept of Infrastructure and Transport (formerly DOTARS, DITRDLG) Nothing whatsoever to do with CASA.
And obviously the huge cost of these things is what pays these muppets
Not quite. The costs for an ASIC go in part to AUSCHECK within the Attorney Generals Dept who do the background security checking. Then there is the cost of the production of the card which normally run at about $40 - $50 each as not too many issuing bodies could handle the capital outlay for the equipment required which is around $40,000. Then someone has to recive your application, process it, and mail your card back which at best they will make $50 - $60 per card.
So the cost of an ASIC in no way goes to paying Transport Security Inspectors.
Remember when I was out working from a station where the airstrip was used to push cattle from the one yard to the trucks - Casa in it's wisdom wanted it to have a 6ft fence with signage and everyone wearing asics because an abo air caravan termed rpt landed once a week with mail...
CASA never decreed that persons being airside on a security controlled airport had to wear ASICs. That honour goes to OTS. CASA don't care about aviation security. You only have to look at what a botch they did of issuing their ASICs to GA realise that.