Maisk Rotum
Its all getting a bit off topic now, but...
The pay is what it is because the airline survives on an entire population less than Victoria. It is still pretty good considering income tax paid and as a multiple of the national average wage it is better paid than any airline in Australia perhaps bar 1. Furthermore, they sure dont have to live in a sh*& hole to get it which sounds like what you've been doing. Apart from the last negotiating round when mainline A320 boys were threatened with section 7 (your tone suggests you already know what this bit is), the freedom contract has had very little effect at all on mainline (pilot) pay. Unfortunately the same cant be said for some other groups. F/A's in particular.
Unless you've worked there Maisk and know whats up, your opinion holds little value for me.