@ Pavement
It shouldn't be that hard. Underwrite VA and QF to operate three services a week each (differing days) between the capital cities and possibly some major regional centres.
Totally agree with your comments, try and book a QF flight anywhere on the SYD BNE SYD sectors at the moment. Flights a few days in advance are unavailable more than likely due to nil seats available (they were there this morning). Try East Coast to Perth!!
Maybe VA is playing strategically in order to bargain for Govt Funding, but if not and is simply unable to fund flights, it can only cause further heartache to the economy.