Ummmm, now I don't want to cause our friend dejavu any more concern than already had but I find your post somewhat muddying the discussion.... I gather that you proceeded through the interview process with AO successfully to at least stage 2 but no further. It's not clear if the visa status was the reason for not progressing further or some other reason..
You do however say in your post,
"As far as I know, the only company in Australia currently requiring a PERMANENT work visa or Autralian citizenship WITHOUT EXCEPTION is Qantas (and ALL its
subsidiaries of course),"
Well, surely you know that AO is a wholly owned subsidiary airline, with its own separate management structure? So equally as sure, you have demolished your own previous assertion about AO and permanent residency?