Relax chaps
The contract with Cobham to run the 717s till 2018 is just that, a contract to run the 717s till 2018. When that arrangement was put in place Qlink was structurally not in a position to bring in jets. At the moment they could do it quite easily by utilising expertise from elsewhere in the QF group and from targeted recruiting, which if they are to put jets in in 2016 would already be happening.
Every operator had to start somewhere and no group is better resourced than QF. One thing is for sure, you will never see the J* fleet repainted white with the rat on the tail. Perhaps they'll replacebthe 717s for Cobham and use Qlink on domestic routes with something bigger???
SN