Gents, another point of view.
Contrary to popular belief, ASA is not the custodian of airspace in Australia. It’s the CASA OAR that has custodianship of the airspace. So, whilst I think it is great that Dick has gone and got himself an exemption, the exemption has been granted to the wrong person.
Consider that CASA have declared airspace above FL290 to be ADS-B mandatory. That is now an airspace rule...just like "though shall not fly through a prohibited area...ever". What that means from AsA side of things is that if you are not equipped they cannot let you in....end of story. If AsA does issue a clearance to a non-ADSB aircraft in this airspace, then they will have to answer to CASA in the form of an NCN. Make no mistake, CASA love issuing NCN's for stuff like this. Ask the TWR and operators at Jandakot about issuing a SID that requires an NDB to aircraft that do not have an ADF.
If CASA have issued Dick an exemption then good on em...but if AsA don't have one, then don't expect a clearance. Also consider that if everyone else is equipped and the controller has them all spaced at 10nm apart...then along come Dick with his steam driven transponder and requests a clearance....how do you fit a 100nm separation standard within an already established 10nm separation.
Sorry Dick, but exemption or not....if others are ADS-B equipped and already occupying the airspace I reckon the chances of a clearance are slim anyway.
Alpha