Small point of order
The only routes in NSW that require licencing are between Sydney (KSA) and regional ports with less than (x),000 pax per year.
Intra-state routes that don't go to/from Mascot do not require licencing and a State govt requirement to licence interstate routes would be unconstitutional.
The whispers and snippets I have heard would seem to indicate that the proposed operation may not need route licences OR slots
With respect to the rest you have posted Sir, I could not possibly disagree.