Creampuff:
It’s all cyber-chip wrapping by now.
Yes, you are right. The great Australian public either don't know about air safety or don't care or both. Why should they?
However cast your mind back to about 1950 or before.
Air travel was regarded and an expensive and dangerous exercise. The industry spent a great deal of time and money to prove to the average punter that it was safe and no more dangerous than taking a train. That is the legacy we have now.
The problem however is that if this public confidence is shaken - by the proverbial Three smoking holes, public attitude will harden just as it has before - and Australian air travel will then be regarded as "too dangerous Mate", and if its Qantas that is involved it will be the end for them.
This is the "freeze, unfreeze and refreeze" model of public attitude response to events.