"Qantas captains are under constant pressure to carry not a litre more in fuel than company operating procedures deem appropriate for each flight.
This tight fuel policy impinges on the traditional authority of captains to rely on their experience and judgement in calculating fuel appropriate to the variable conditions under which a flight operates."
Bullsh!t to both the above paragraphs !!!
The policy might require you to load the 'minimum operational requirement' but there is no restriction, implied or expressed, on taking whatever fuel you require for the sector. I certainly have no hesitation in adding extra fuel if I think I'm going to need it, and I've never had a phone call asking why.
Regards,
BH.