What is really daft is that an RPL holder with a Flight Radio Endorsement can fly into a certified aerodrome chattering on the radio, a student can fly solo in Class D with a General English Language Proficiency...but the guy in Car One doing the runway inspection has to have ICAO Level 6 and do the "my hovercraft is full of eels" test even though they have never flown an aircraft in their life. This is something that CASA have messed up VERY badly and really does need fixing.
Dick, the FAA can of course file differences but it means that any pilot wishing to fly overseas has to bear the burden of having to do this test because of those differences. And all American pilots I have spoken to are not happy about that.
As for paying $140 for a test that takes around 10-15 minutes, shop around!