That scenario with Emirates would not suprise, but do Emirates have anymore traffic rights to increase services to Australia using their own metal?
I believe EK have no further rights into MEL, SYD, BNE or PER but can add flights to other ports.
They can upscale from 77Ws to A380s at their will provided the airport can provide them with the gates. The next logical upscale will be another of the MEL flights going to A380 probably DXB-SIN-MEL at which stage QF can be expected to further lower their services on SIN-MEL.
MEL will have the A380 gate capacity with SQ moving its A380s onto Indian services.