Let's face it Dick, the introduction of AMATS and the subsequent removal of flight service removed an incredibly knowledgable group of professionals from the system. Located in remote locations the knew the geography, they knew the people, they knew the weather and how local variations that were invisible to people looking at computer models in a big room in the capital cities impacted the local area. In short they were an invaluable resource that no longer exists.
It was a c.o.c.k up deluxe (the don't insult anyone filter changed it to dog up if you can believe that!). Saving 1.4 billion over 20 odd years, but at what cost? How was the 1.4 billion quantified? We could have saved some of that by not rebranding CAA into AsA and casa!
I agree we sometimes manage to find a unique way to make the simple complex, but sometimes the Australian way, which may well be different to the rest of the world, is in fact the better way and we ARE worlds best practice - the rest of the world simply needed to catch up!