Cairns is open water ops.
A pilot with little more float experience than an endorsement would need closer to three months than three weeks to check to line in commercial open water ops, and even then would require close supervision to water conditions.
With significant investment in salary and other training costs the quick movement of some pilots onto "bigger and better things" with very little if any return on investment has made it very difficult for those after a start.
Apart from a very temporary position, that last thing you want is turnover in open water float ops - even experienced float pilots take a amount significant time to check to line in a new area.