Yep, passengers love cancellations; it's such a guaranteed method for long term success I am not sure why QF and VA don't do more of it. Plus, you can just not pay leases, staff, crew, insurance and all the other fixed costs, right?
I don't think you are following the thread, the cancellations being due to empty airplanes due to passengers not being able to fly due to covid restrictions. Of which i'm pretty sure all companies have a refund or defer policy for tickets affected by such.