Reds under the bed?
Isn't it possible the 'conspiracy" theories are a bit overdone here? Isn't it just possible that QF is fdoing the inteligent thing, and setting up a low cost structure arm (a la freedomair to ANZ) to block, premptively, a Virgin push into low cost Intl ops ex Australia - might this not in fact be GOOD for QF pilots and employees? An airline's management has a duty to maximise income and return on investmnent, pure and simple, it is not charged with providing one employee group with particular set of conditions of employment to the exclusion of all else. (Runs to bunker to hide)