Physician Assistants

I went to an information seminar about the new Physician Assistant (PA) last night at UQ - primarily as a medical student who was interested in what the scope of practice will be, how they will fit in with the health care team etc. The new program at UQ for PAs starts next year (intake of 20). It looks like a reasonable program and although they will be working under the supervision of a doctor and their scope is reasonably well defined, I have some concerns.
1) The course is aimed at people like paramedics, nurses, physios etc with a history of patient interaction before starting the masters program in PA - However, the compulsory criteria is very loose (individual consideration of wide experiences, minimum experience is a year - but "experience" is VERY broadly defined) and I hope that if they fail to find numbers the standards are kept high.
2) PAs are used successfully in the U.S but over there the course is 2 full on years. The course here is 2 years, BUT 1 year with 6wks of contact, the rest requires a part-time commitment online. The second year is full-time with clinical placements. Much less over all than the American system.
3)They will have the ability to take histories, examine, order investigation and prescribe. This might be OK for certain conditions (e.g. BP or diabetes monitoring), they are a plan to help adress workforce shortages, I am wondering if a Dr really will have the resources to adequately supervise and if patients might fall through the cracks esp with children or elderly who don't always present in the "typical manner" or in areas of funding shortages. Why get 2 doctors when 1 doctor and 2 PAs are just as cheap.
4)There is no immediate plan for any college or CPD and I realize they will be supervised, but how will the "profession" be regulated..they are not covered by nursing or medical acts, how will we be assured of standards.
5) A PA is rumoured to be entitled to get the same wage as a Nurse practitioner (about $75000 a year was quote)..isn't that more than interns and junior docs - who do most of the work, and unlike PAs do share some of the legal responsibility for health outcomes??

I am not bagging the PAs I think they are actually a good idea in some instances, HOWEVER they really need close guidance and supervision while the profession finds its feet and I am anxious. In the end I would NOT accept being treated by a PA for me or my family...maybe I am too cautious, and maybe, with time I might think differently... What do you think???