If you declare that you are non-RVSM it does not prevent you from operating in RVSM airspace, but ATC may not give you a clearance. As this event occurred this year I doubt that other traffic was going to be a problem especially as they were given a block clearance. had they been denied a clearance into RVSM airspace then I doubt that they would have had the fuel to go to Brisbane. I think that the way this was handled shows the results of years of CRM and TEM training. Positive outcome and it appears as though the crew have gone through the problem and mitigated the threats. The fact that the report has been discontinued suggests that the ATSB does not see the benefit of using resources where there is no safety benefit. Essentially the crew were faced with a technical issue, they handled it, the aeroplane was landed safely. End of story, the way the system is supposed to work.