Correct me if I'm wrong but this aircraft would have been subject to a ground delay program & possible slot constraints? If this is the case, whomever stood up and interfered with these programs deserves to be on a no fly list. They are not only interfering with the passengers on this aircraft but a whole airport's & airways system's passengers.
While Melbourne does have a ground delay program, it is only for departures for SYD, BNE and PER. As this flight was going to DRW it would not have been. I suggest though that the Chardonnay Sipping Socialists involved in this wouldn't have known about that either way. All logic goes out the window.