Oh for fcuk's sake, poor diddums. Get on any European business class on a single-aisle & it'll be 2x3 - so someone gets the 'E' seat. Then jump on an EK A330 or pretty much anyone's 777, and guess what - middle seat in business. BA even have (gasp) 2 (!!) middle seats in business - and they face backwards!! (They do turn into fully-flat beds, though... ).
Point being: retract heads from sand, Australian business travellers, and get in step with the rest of the world. The airlines aren't charities, they're in it to make a buck (but manage to make the lowest margins of pretty weel any part of the travel industry). Stop complaining; chances are, you're not even paying for it yourself.
What's really annoying is that Qantas shares are one of Australia's most-widely held - so chances are that many of those griping about the middle seat, would be the same ones who'd gripe if their dividend was cut.
Moreover, Australia is NOT the only country with only a small number of 'mainline' airlines - Canada, France, Germany, Italy, South Africa. It's the norm. Best we get used to it.
Happy new year all!!