Are you guys kidding?
The only base that's been screwed here is Hong Kong.
This is clearly a type change in home base that's covered in the basing agreement.
It's not a reduction in manning levels which is what's being erroneously and mischievously used to put junior people into Melbourne and Brisbane.
The current Sydney based guys should be doing a type change, in reverse seniority if required, and the clear undermanning of mel and bne due to years of attrition should be filled by those senior enough to bid for it. Which will mostly be Hong Kong based crew. Mutually agreed base swaps could also then follow if so desired.
All that's happened here is we've agreed to allow the company to offer less base slots overall than they otherwise would have had to provide.
Well done- another own goal.