Having worked for Changi Airport Group and its predecessor, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore
Predecessor, what is that supposed to mean?
Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore
it is rare that other civil aviation authorities would challenge it.
Perhaps from a regulatory standpoint that may be true. However from a TRADE standpoint you may find other government agencies get involved. Companies trying to avoid paying Australian crews under Australian labour laws, circumventing visa requirements and diverting tax revenue from the ATO may attract unwanted attention from unexpected directions.
Singapore - AKA Panama for Australian airlines
I think this is a valid analogy. The BIG difference being that the general public do not care about cargo ships being crewed by twenty year old phillipina crews (until they hit the GBR!) but they probably do not wish to fly overseas on aircraft crewed by "foreign" crews of unknown competence. Hence Onestar wish to have the cudos of Australian crews up the front but wish to pay south east asian wages.
The reality is that the pilot supply side in Australia is now swinging in favour of crews. The senate recommendations
if followed by CASA will put an end to 250 hour indentured labour. I just cannot see this scheme working long term.
Last point CAAS is an arm of the Singapore government. Singapore Airlines is government owned through Temasek Holdings. Therefore CAAS will not bend over backwards to help Qantas. Their motivation would more likely be to do the opposite.