Just to repeat myself.
This is a cyclic event and will pass (with pain) like a kidney stone.
Re-hiring WILL begin in 2-3 years when they realize that they have "lost " too many in the redundancy program.
Cop it sweet for now and park yourselves in a money earning job. If you don't want to return or you have discovered that there IS life after Qantas, then that's your good fortune.
The only downside I see in the process is that these tossers will claim that there is not enough qualified people around, and 457 visa's will materialize quickly.
Good luck to all.