Willadvise,
That is correct.
However the aircraft diverted to Mildura on the basis of the Metars. That is to say actual weather. Metars were not AUTO they were actual observations.
I dont know about Virgin but the Qantas had legal fuel on diversion. I think the report states 2.9 at mildura. They arrived at 2342z. Tempo ended at 2400z. So thats 18+30 = 45 mins holding fuel.
With regards to what Qantas did after the event, that is a matter for Qantas and has no bearing on the situation as it unfolded.