What internals are asking for is to be respected for the years of service they have provided to the group over some outsider off the street. If Jetstar or Qlink etc can't release someone because they are not sufficiently crewed, (let's be honest, this is purely due to their incompetence, poor terms and conditions or both) and need to hold people back for years, that those crew who were good enough to pass the selection process are not unfairly punished.
The issue here is that what is loyalty worth?? With the world pilot market busting open you are going to see pilots in their late 20's early 30's with heavy jet international experience some even with commands. Not all will want to stay overseas, or their partners will want to return, so the question is what is someone with direct relevant experience worth to QF vs someone who has never flown a jet but is loyal to the corporation?
Honestly I still think you are better off ditching any thought of loyalty and just make move into a jet ASAP