Cessnapete,
The difference with cadet programmes in Europe is that they have experience doing it and the airlines provide the necessary resources for it. Apart from Jetstar nobody in Australia has a 0 to jet ab initio programme. They had awful problems with it at the start.
Australian operators just don't want to spend any money on training. Qlink went to the USA to try and get dash drivers because they thought they could get out of having to type rate people. They would also have instant command qualified FO's.
I laugh when the likes of Skippers and Corporate Air advertise for type rated pilots. How many out of work metro and dash drivers do they think are out there? Again just not wanting to invest in any training.