Clearly CASA has it's price and major airlines in Australia know exactly what that price is.
It is a shame that our airlines push these agendas on the one hand while on the other rattle on about safest records blah, blah, blah.
CASA is where the rubber hits the road and Airline agendas should not influence CASA in the slightest - CASA's function is to regulate and police aviation standards in Australia to the standards set by ICAO (and EASA as our system is modelled on theirs).
Shame on you CASA. I hope Mr Skidmore has more integrity than the last bloke!!