Capt Fathom,
I hope you're right, and that it a wind up, but I don't think so.
A phenomenon that exists in aviation is that a company builds its pilots up to where they should be, and then some prick in management doesn't like it so sets about undoing all the good work.
It happens time and time again, and QF under Dixon is a prime target. Virgin salaries and conditions are the new benchmark, and anybody who thinks Dixon isn't going after those levels is delusionary.
I hope I'm wrong for the sake of my many QF friends, but those of them who are realists believe they are in for a roughing up.