Mmmm in an indealistic world, perhaps you're right EAAFA... But the reality is this:
Recruitment Policies generally dictate that the only thing you can take into account is the candidate's performance on the day and then any other relevant factors including their operating perfomance to date. If the quality of the interview was not good, then it may have made it somewhat of a 'two horse race'? Who knows. And from my understanding, Qantas' policy is that jobs are advertised and require an interview... so this is no different.
Mmmm your commnts about people whining are interesting... Why is it that people don't take it to Management? Perhaps it's because we never bloody see Management! That's what I reckon....
