Warning - thread drift!
So mean nasty Chart Air has been daring to take some RFDS work, and the RFDS don't like it? Diddums.
I wouldn't worry about the RFDS too much. RFDS Central Operations have just signed a 3 year contract to provide emergency retrievals, with the right of renewal for 3 years, plus 3 years.
RFDS - News
And, to the best of my knowledge, the contract wasn't even advertised for tender.
I reckon any charter operator in the country would give their left testicle (and possibly the right one as well) for such a contract.
(And in a quick read of their latest figures - 2011/12 financial year - the RFDS state that 25% of their income comes from the Feds, 47% from State Govts. Now I'm not real flash at reading budgets, but from what I can see the 25% of the income that comes from the Commonwealth = $69m). As I have said, I am not real good at reading budgets & accountants trickery, so am willing to be corrected on this.
In my opinion, they're a bureaucracy hiding behind a legend....