I cant see JQ cant surviving on AVV-SYD if TT begin MEL-SYD. Even Virgin are proving a cheap alternative with "No Fuel Surcharges" of late....
Perhaps a part of it, is JQ looking at the economics of AVV if they have to pay for the tower being manned at some stage in the future; say, about right after the airshow (that's if ASA could find any controllers!)