Patriotism, is a cop out. If you want people to support the local product, make it as good as what else is on offer. If the standards set by Emirates/Singapore/Malaysian etc are too much for Qantas and Air New Zealand to compete with then bad luck. Don't try and ask people to fly with Qantas when there is a better product on offer elsewhere, improve the product and the prople will fly with you.
Dunno about Wheeler experience, but 4 16 hours flights with Emirates in the last 18 months has shown me consistently they are a fantastic airline in all respects. I actually have found Dubai airport to be a pleasure, and while I didn't fly during the recent fog induced schedule problems, personally I have found them to be on time every flight. For every bad Emirates story I have heard 10 British Airways/Qantas horror stories. Anyway as someone said, the fact that the flights are all chock a block and they are increasing flights all the time to oz, says it all.