Growahead,
Only somebody who swallowed the propaganda, and does not understand the serious technical limitations of the old DME A would make a post like yours.
One of the "shortcomings" was the ability to indicate entirely the wrong distance --- hence the "regulations" on checking before descending below LSA --- no insignificant limitation.
The frequency was such that weather and TS also upset the operation of DME A, it was never going to be a competitor for 1000mc. DME/VORTAC/TACAN.
Tootle pip!!
PS: Australia was not the first to put ADS-B into operation, far from it.
The only thing Australia "pioneered" with ADS-B was "mandatory".
And the first was not 1090ES. That technologically and financially stupid decision came much later.
There is far too much myth and mythology surrounding aviation in Australia, as a former director of CASA said: " Australia is an aviation Galapagos, where all sorts of strange mutations have developed in splendid isolation from the real world".