What has happened to the aviation industry in Australia is indeed shocking. Just a short few years ago, suitably qualified staff were rare enough and a person could nearly pick and choose from a range of companies. From the regs side of things, the old system was still in place and if you were a LAME with one airframe type, you'd pick up work easily. Nowadays the market is flooded with qualified LAMES all of a sudden, and even if you are someone typed up to the hilt, you are stuck with agencies that offer no sick pay, or airline staff perks etc. You can also be expected to be treated like a piece of furniture, which is fine short term but difficult to sustain if one has a family.
It seems obvious that airlines lobby with authorities to save money, but now it seems engineering staff have become a luxury or perhaps hinderence in some cases, rather than an essential part of airline operation. A real shame because Australia is a fine place to live and people are prepared to work hard given the opportunity
I certainly don't agree with what Joyce is doing, and feel he should have been kicked out long ago, but the way the whole industry has gone could not be down to one man surely.