This is not new news. The Mutual recognition bill was placed before parliment last year. It has been passed in the senate so it is only a matter of time before parts of this are implemented. The biggest thing to effect cabin crew is the new CC to pax ratio of 1:50. (currently 1:36) So this means that we can have 4 CC on an 737-800 that holds 180 pax. It could potentially mean 3 on the 737-700, but at this time CASA have said that there will still need to be 4 crew on the 700 - 1 for each door.
VB are doing the warm fuzzy by attempting to get our opinion on how this will impact our crew, but the truth is that this
will be implemented regardless. It will only be a matter of time until QF follow suit.
BTW this memo wasn't supposed to go out. It was a mistake by the MEL admin staff. A whole explaination and stuff was supposed to come out first.