Ok,
thought I'd add my 2 cents, all based on fact.
Qlink have around 65 QF cadets and LOI holders. We were all asked to update out details between the 2-7 March on a QF website. When the Qlink CP was asked recently when these people would be leaving Qlink, he said that hiring for QF would start mid year (June). He mentioned first of all they would be trying to get guys back off LWOP and then be looking at cadets/LOI's. He also said that he has been in discussion with the CP at Qantas and that IF the Cadets and LOI's were bypassed (earlier ground schools) by direct hires to Qantas because Qlink can't release them that the Cadets/LOI's would not loose out.
Don't know how this will be done but thats the best, and most factual info I have at the moment.