My opinion of these types of programs is that they are weapons designed to keep pilots where management wants them, ie staffing their feeders at cheaper rates. Qantas does the same thing with their Links, and for the same reasons. That leaves Aussies that want the big Q on their resume two options. Stay at your Link, and know you'll be there a long time, or leave your Link and take your chances.
Yes 100% agree with that. It has been going on in NZ and Australia too for a long time. It's a way of controlling the labour market. If it gets to tight they just hire over the top into mainline because they can and there are no guarantees anyone in the feeder airline will go anywhere. The old theory back in the day was that if you wanted to work for Qantas you go work at Kendall and if you wanted to work for Ansett go work at Eastern/Sunstate. Same still applies now just the names have changed.