"As to the outrageous prices I am now seeing quoted for now mandatory use, it seem to me that the costings are based on the US Flight Safety rates plus return airfares plus a hefty margin. In short, in my opinion, what you are seeing is the inevitable result of a CASA created virtual monopoly."
To use a simulator at a certain foreign airlines facility in Australia costs around three times what the actual aircraft costs, currently they have a monopoly. The current cost for recurrancy is around what it would cost to attend flight safety.
They also pretty much dictate how the airport they use is run as well, how long before foreign entities begin dictating who can and cant use Australian airports. Oh forgot! our airports are mostly privately owned jeez even Mascot is owned by some company in the Bahama's a well known tax haven.
What happens Leadie when the public interest or safety benefit is overridden by the holy $$$.