Absolutely, Mr. Fairless.
It is a failure of GOVERNMENT.
- they have failed to direct AsA to provide proper resourcing, and would rather that entity provides cash. It's bosses do what they are tasked with.
- they fail to apply the revenues obtained from mining appropriately (already mentioned and done to death- EVERYBODY knows it)
- they fail to make policy (in general) that serves the long term interest of Australians with regard to mining
As far as the thread topic; AsA has been cost-shifting for ages. It's nothing new, it just takes the odd new form. See the point above about effective direction.