Folks,
Once again, get your facts straight.
Qantas Group basing aircraft anyhwere outside Australia does not dilute national ownership in any way. It has no effect on the nationality of the company, of the AOC, or the right to be seen as an Australian company.
Jetstar VH- aircraft based in Singapore in no way means they become Jetstar Asia aircraft (even if they are "cross hired" to Jetstar Asia- for want of a better description), likewise if Qantas chooses to base mainline VH- aircraft in Singapore, as opposed to Australia, has precisely NIL effect, as far as any traffic rights, bi-laterals or the Qantas Sale Act is concerned.
I am reminded of 1989, when the AFAP said Hawke can't do a,b,c,d and we will win, Hawke did a,b,c,d and the AFAP lost.
This is what I see here: Qantas group can't do x, y and z, because of what some of your see as "consequence", when, just as in '89, the basic pilot premise is wrong.
Qantas can do x,y and z without effecting their legal position one iota.
Tootle pip!!