I would not like to think that a major defect is missed by a baggage handler before dispatch and results in a catastrophic event.
Consider asking these questions.
Q1. Is it acceptable practice to use baggage handlers for dispatch?
A. The economic modelling and lack of catastrophic events post dispatch say it is.
Q2. Will having qualified and experienced engineers dispatch the aircraft at a greater cost be acceptable to ALL stakeholders?
A. No, only those who see safety as a worthwhile investment would agree and managers are under pressure to improve profits. Most passengers will look to the cheaper fares without knowing what's behind the economics.
Q3. Does CASA care?
A. No.
Q4. Who will face the families to answer their questions when the first catastrophic event occurs?
A. An airline rep chosen because he/she is better at spin than the others.
The safety envelope continues to get stretched as long as nothing happens, but there IS a limit and airlines under economic pressure will continue to try to find savings, and particularly in areas that compliance is less of an issue.
It's as if this company is removing as many things as it can that don't prevent operations from continuing on the basis that there hasn't been a tragedy.
Now THAT practice may have to answer to the law of averages.