This is a long but interesting read about the methodology and mindset behind today's CASA. A sort of tale about its beginning, birth and reincarnation;
http://www.canberra.edu.au/researchr.../full_text.pdf
After reading the above work then read Dicks book 'Two Years in the aviation hall of fame'. Much of what he says is actually factual about today's modern CASA. Not pretty by any means, and the amusing and colourful descriptions of the then CAA are robust.
Either way CASA is still, and will always be, a basket case unless a minister with balls takes the beast by the horns and slaughters it.
What about you Mr Truss, got the gooleys to do the job?