I think that is the crux of the problem. I have no data to confirm or deny but the levels of ancillary staff per airframe would be a very enlightening figure to compare across many airlines and rate against qf numbers.
As would the average salary of ancillary staff numbers across other airlines vs qf.
Didn't AIPA send out an email regarding QF vs VA staff numbers per aircraft a while back? I can't remember the exact numbers but I believe there were fewer QF pilots per aircraft than virgin but much higher numbers of overall staff (management) per aircraft in QF??