Capn, just repeating what a senior official in VARA told me. Could be complete bunk, but that is why they say they are going to hold onto the A320s instead of just relying on VA's 738s. I know they did use those for a short time at Dave Forrest before XR got their A320s.
QF says that FMG requested a larger aircraft than the 738, which is why the JQ A320 fits the bill. I guess it beats flying two F100s/717s instead. Indications are that it will be flying to the two sites out until the end of the contract in two years.