In a regulatory sense what's the difference between going to LA or Denpasar or Nandi or Auckland? Either you can fly internationally or you can't.
This is probably what is being referred to;
https://www.smh.com.au/business/comp...08-p56spl.html
It really does make a mockery of the rules that everyone else has to follow. Especially in the case of QF that is hamstrung by these rules and the sale act which results in no major investors having controlling interests in the airline. This will impact future viability if competition is allowed to court internationals yet QF is stuck with 51% sporadic local ownership.
On the flip side, Virgin would be a dead and roasted duck by now without the loophole...