I'm interested in the difference between AMSA & CASA. AMSA seems to do a pretty good job without generating any of the angst that CASA does. It has pretty much the same budget, but has some additional functions that CASA does not (eg AUSAR), so prima facie it is more efficient. It seems to be able to work through other bodies more effectively than CASA, eg small boats via car registration bodies, medicals through Medibank Health Solutions. Its fees seem to be generally less than CASA. It doesn't seem to perpetually re-write its own regulations.
Another difference between CASA & AMSA seems to be the board. CASA has 4 non executive directors, 1 of which has an aviation background. AMSA has 8 non executive directors 6 of which have some sort of maritime background. There is also a good variety of background (ie not just the equivalent of airlines). It must be a lot harder for the AMSA CEO to pull the wool over his board than the CASA CEO.
However, if you read its vision & mission its very similar to CASA. So it must be that AMSA has a better culture with better management. Its generally regarded that you need to change 1/3 of management to make a lasting culture change. Changing the top guy doesn't do it. CASA is broken. It needs to be dismantled and rebuilt with new parts.