From my understanding the CAO refers to AOC holders and recommended to everybody else, but I'm not the expert.
No no no no no no no no no.......
You are bound by everything in the CAR, CASR, CAO, and AIP, regardless of whether you are flying under an AOC, hold a PPL, and RA cert or fly balloons. Each CAO will define what type of op is covered in it's applicability or title, eg.
CAO 48.0
1 APPLICATION AND RESPONSIBILITY
1.1 These Orders shall apply to aerial work, charter and regular public transport service operations unless otherwise stated.
1.3 The holder of a pilot licence other than a private pilot licence who engages in aerial work, charter, or regular public transport operations, shall be subject to the flight and duty time limitations specified by CASA in section 48.1 of this Part. Calculations of flight and duty time limitations made under the provisions of section 48.1 shall take into account any flight and duty time performed in the course of private operations.
This includes commonly neglected areas such as CASR Part 92 Dangerous Goods (ie. carrying a jerry can of extra fuel on the front seat of the robbie, the Reg says All Australian Aircraft, not just commercial ones), CAR 256A Carriage of Animals (Rover cannot be carried in the back seat of the C172 without CASA approval) and CAR 143 Carriage of Firearms (you cannot transport your own firearm on a private flight without permission from CASA).
Ignore at your own risk when ramped.
Same as with the ipads. Normal size is ok, mini ain't. This was directly from a CASA officer and I did stress the mini vs normal debate and "recommendation" issues being raised here.
Not my sandpit, I just play in it.