There are also guys with less than 1500TT that got in, so how are guys with 4000 hours not competitive based off a CV?
Anything they’re secretly looking for? Multi crew experience, instructors, age bracket?
QF can afford to be picky at this point in time. Cathay Pacific pilots are leaving in droves and the Aussies are all trying to get back home, so hiring has been a win-win for both the pilots and Qantas. Ex-pat Aussies in the Middle East are looking to get back home. All these guys are either FO's or SO's flying wide-body international, so have plenty of experience in the type of flying that Qantas is going to employ them for.
Whether Qantas admit to it or not, there is a bias against internals. So if the 4000 hour guy is from Qlink, then it's going to be harder, esp. if he's a Captain.