This news item is from the Executive Travellers web site and just posted a short time ago.
Good news for everyone.
In a message to staff on a private Virgin Australia Facebook group posted this evening, and seen by Executive Traveller, CEO Paul Scurrah noted "I am aware that Qantas communicated to their people that they had been 'directed' by the Australian Government to operate a 'minimum domestic network'."
"Upon hearing this I immediately contacted the Deputy Prime Minister, who denied any such deal was in place and that both airlines will be treated equally."
"The good news is that he called me tonight to say we will be offered the opportunity to operate a 'minimum domestic network' subsidised by the Australian Government," Scurrah continued. "We will be in discussions with the Australian Government tomorrow to work through the detail.