Some Pseudo DEC's were employed at the Townsville base catas'. I say pseudo because they managed to secure a spot under the Townsville Leter Of Agreement which has now expired. Under the LOA if insufficient "existing" REX Captains applied for the Townsville start-up, then the positions would be offered to Pelair (ex-Macair) Saab captains, provided they met all of the REX Check and training requirements. These Captains would be employed on a temporary basis and at the expiry of the LOA would either return to Pelair, be offered a REX F/O's position at the bottom of the seniority list, or if they were lucky, be offered a Command in Townsville if no other REX captain or REX F/O with the required min for command applied. There were 3 command positions available under the Townsville LOA which were filled by 2 existing REX Captains, and 1 Pelair (ex-Macair) captain.
About 6-8 months ago 2 additional Pelair Captains were "given" positions in Townsville in breach of the LOA. Under the LOA these positions were required to be advertised to existing REX captains, but I'm assuming due to expediency, the company elected to renig on it's industrial responsibilty and appoint these people illegally! Some protest via the REXPC was made but it amounted to nothing. Absolutely disgraceful! (from both sides).
Anyway, now that the LOA has expired and Townsville is a permanent base, all bids for command (Townsville or otherwise) must follow the mandated bidding system. If no existing REX captains or qualified F/O's apply for positions in any base where there is a vacancy, then the company can theoretically employ DEC's. There are a few (very few) F/O's left with the mins for command. If any REX F/O with a standing bid in for command upgrade is bypassed without reason for a DEC, then a dispute should be lodged with FWA due to a breach in the EBA.
A dispute should have been lodged for the LOA breach, but that horse has now bolted! As for the original Pelair Captain and the 2 subsequently illegally appointed Captains, there were no standard bids for command in Townsville at the expiry of the LOA. So these guys have "Lucked out", and are now permanent REX Captains based in Townsville!