Unfortunately I can't get confirmation. My understanding is that JB runs some sort of "phone in" conference type arrangement periodically where staff can ask questions and the comment was made in response to a query from a Virgin pilot about how long the business class product would take to get rolled out.
It would certainly not be an unrealistic view in any case. Everybody knows AJ is absolutely obsessed with the low cost leisure travel model, and every bloke and his dog knows AJ's low cost carrier does and will continue to cannibalise his premium brand. The world rides ups and downs of economic cycles, and whenever the next "up" occurs, he will have left QF with diddly-squat. JB should be able to fill this niche nicely with his forward planning.