Copilot and CVR
All these answers and more are to be found on the CVR. In a known location and only 45 m deep.
Odd ATSB didn't want the CVR. If there was a bank robbery and the Police did not wish to view the CCTV footage as part of their investigation, you would regard that as odd.
This accident nearly killed 6 people. It was just luck it didn't. Lucky to survive a ditching at night on an open ocean in fog. It could even have come down to the warmer water temperature in November compared to July. So it was just luck ATSB were not investigating a fatal accident.
This means the investigation should have been conducted as if 6 people were dead. And that means getting the CVR.
All very odd.