I edited my previous post for clarity to say that the reduction in hours was at the crew members request, not due to a reduction in flying.
Misleading.
Flex Lines are ONLY available BECAUSE THERE IS REDUCED FLYING THROUGH LUNATIC MANAGEMENT!
Flex Lines are nothing more than a tool to provide an 'excuse' if you will for management screwups.
It also nicely allows anomalies such as the one you point out to be bandied about in the press and elsewhere. It is NOT pilots fault that they signed on to 850+ hours a year and the forward 'planning' (although I'm not sure if I can use that term and Qantas in the same post) was so screwed up that the only way to divide the flying is by doing exactly that.
You are totally missing the point and blaming the messenger.
Joyce and Clifford would love your argument.