I agree a review of RAAF airspace use is far overdue not just at Wily but all over Australia, but to say the RAAF is to blame for this accident is drawing a very long bow
If a can digress for a moment and talk about my experience in the same area less than 10 years after this accident. My flight was a day VFR full reporting flight from CG to BK. I had a PPL and building hours for my CPL. The WX forecast indicated it was good VFR conditions all the way to BK. From TRE I planned to use the inland route behind willy. Approaching TRE I noticed the WX along the coast seemed to be less than ideal VFR conditions, so I was pleased my choice to plan inland. As I approached the start of the inland route I noticed the WX was starting to move in around me, I did an orbit to see if I could make it back to TRE, no joy WX had moved in. I thought should I go down to 500' and try to scud run, not a good idea.
Above me was clear so, climbed, passing about 5000' the engine started to make a strange sound and SYD FIS made a broadcasting stating aircraft to the North West of Willy you are about to enter Willy restricted areas. I knew they were referring to me so I advised them of my problems and that the WX looks CLR towards Willy and I'm tracking that way. I levelled out around 6000-6500 and a few mins later I was told to contact Willy. I informed them I was a VFR pilot with the weather closing in, engine was making an usual sound and required DCT willy.
The controllers did a great job assisting me around the weather and providing guidance all the way to willy. Upon arrival in the circuit area, the X-wind was fluctuating around the limits of the aircraft (and me). The controllers offered me the use of the taxiway Hotel (long taxiway into wind) and I believe it was used at times by the FAC Winjeels, if I needed it. In the end I landed on 12. Submitted the required paperwork (225) and that was the end of it.
So why my long story, well I think it shows the PIC of MDX had another option that he didn't take. Once the WX started to close in, he could have done what I did and just turn towards Willy and advise SYD FIS he was in trouble. Unfortunately we will never know why he didn't do this but perhaps the reasons were;
1. Fatigue, the flight from CG to BK was 3 hours, and a rough guess the time down from North QLD to CG would have been around 4 hours. So allowing for all the ground time before DEP and on the ground in CG he would have been on duty for around 8 -9 hours at the time of the event.
2. Commercial Pressure: Although the flight was private, how many hours had he worked out to complete the job. Perhaps he calculated it on the min time with perfect winds and any delays would cost him.
So who or what is to blame for this accident, well there is not one single cause as in most accidents. The delay in RAAF providing clearance was only a small factor in the events that lead to this accident.
I'm not trying to defend the RAAF, but other then this tragic accident how many other accidents have been attributed to aircraft not bring able to a clearance through a RAAF airspace. My guess is there have have been more accidents caused by pilots scud running to avoid Civil airspace. So rather than point the blame at one department and get so angry and uptight about it. Use that energy to educate the current generation of PPL/CPL pilots about what happened that night, such as NVFR into IMC, flying an aircraft that wasn't serviceable and provide them with tools on how to avoid the same traps.
For the families hopefully the wreckage will be found soon, so they can finally get some closure.