This is still very much speculation, but is it possible the Jetstar 787 deliveries are being deferred?
The next aircraft due for delivery from Everett in Line Number 175, VH-VKF. It was rolled out of final assembly in late March and is yet to take its first flight, which usually happens about a month after rollout.
The one after that is LN 189 VH-VKG which was rolled out on May 1. Instead of being parked in the pre-flight stalls for all the necessary stages of preparation for flight testing, it has been parked at the tower apron, which is where 787's have been placed in the past for storage. The regular stages of preparation were not performed on this airframe.
This may be part of some effort to manipulate the financial performance of the company, avoiding the large capital expenditure, probably on the short term.
(Long term storage for 787's is also on the disused RWY 11-29).
