For the benefit of MP:
10 Serviceability
10.1 In the case of a charter or regular public transport aircraft, all instruments and equipment fitted to the aircraft must be serviceable before take-off, unless:
(a) flight with unserviceable instruments or equipment has been approved by CASA, subject to such conditions as CASA specifies; or
(b) the unserviceability is a permissible unserviceability set out in the minimum equipment list for the aircraft and any applicable conditions under subregulation 37 (2) of the Regulations have been complied with; or
(c) CASA has approved the flight with the unserviceable instrument or equipment and any applicable conditions that CASA has specified in writing have been complied with; or
(d) the unserviceable instrument or equipment is a passenger convenience item only and does not affect the airworthiness of the aircraft.
[Bolding added, except in the heading.]
For my benefit: I request that all PICs who make the judgement call to carry a ‘minor’ defect that isn’t in the list of exceptions above, please make a PA announcement of the decision and the defect.
There's no reasonable ground on which to keep PAX in the dark. After all, it’s legal and zero risk, right?