Re D checks.
That's the whole point of AJ's statement about needing less manpower in OZ. The A380, and the B787 when it arrives, will never see a C or D check carried out in OZ as QF are doing what many other operators are doing and that's paying the manufacturers to arrange and take care of those checks wherever they have certified organisations. Half the QF A380 fleet have already been away to Germany for C checks.
As a side note, the B787 is anticipated to have D checks done about every 12 years so there's a long wait for those.