uspect that Qantas are fully aware that if they don't consider those from their own subsidiaries then they're likely to lose those people anyway. We have very different managers now compared to 2007- we are two Chief Pilots further on and a complete overhaul of the Flight Ops structure.
Whilst they still take riding instructions from above, I think they know that not taking our own is cutting off our nose to spite our face.
Keg, the last flight I did was with an ex Qlink Q400 guy, he was of the opposite opinion to yours. Irrespective of perception, his reality was different.