Pinned straw:
The subject of independence and owning some shares is a subjective one of course. If you have a whole Board with Buffett and Mungers skill and integrity you don't need independence. But sadly we dont have many managers of Aussie companies that fit that description.
So, thats why having independent Directors is the next best option most of the time. ASA wants these independent Directors to hold at least 1 years worth of fees within 3 years on the Board. If they have no spare money it means they can use 1/3 of each years Board fees to get there, which shouldn't be too hard for most. Hopefully 1 years worth of fees in shares sharpens the mind and ensures they take the most care...but it isn't so much that they'll take huge risks or not act with integrity because they had so much to lose. The core job of independent Directors is to oversee the company and ensure all shareholders are treated fairly...not just consider management. And finally independence shouldn't just mean they are "professional" Directors. They should be bringing real skills that the Board needs and ideally past experience from the industry the company operates in.
Again its subjective but it seems a sensible position and compromise for the majority of companies and Boards.
I'd be annoyed by that too @Karmast
Even if the questions weren't "intelligent", as they saw it, or in other ways unworthy, it's not a lot to expect them to treat their shareholders they represent with due respect.
There are too many professional directors these days, and I'm not sure what a lot of them really bring to the table.
On the long list of rules I'd enact if I became president of Australia would the requirement for all directors to be significant shareholders in the company. You couldn't even be nominated unless you add already acquired a sizeable stake. And you could only be paid in options -- specifically, low exercise price options, issued at the money, with 5 year expiry, and only executable at expiry.
You could debate the finer points of this, but I bet it'd better align incentives and lead to better shareholder outcomes.