Mr. Sandilands gets it perfectly.
The obsessions of the Board and the Sydney push that tried to take Qantas private (The APA Boyz) are still driving the Qantas "strategy".
My guess is that Joyce will be the last to know he is finished. It will dawn on him only when Geoff Dixon stops ringing him and inviting him for a friendly drink and a chat.
Qantas is fighting the wrong battles at the wrong place and at the wrong time. It is counting on The Chairmans Lounge to get it out of trouble.
Oddly enough, if Rudd gets in, I would expect that Virgins plans will be given thumbs down by the FIRB - which is not an independent body and much given to political considerations in its decision making..