Here are Qantas' domestic flight cancellations from April

I refer you to https://www.qantas.com/au/en/travel-info/travel-updates/coronavirus/booking-changes-and-refunds.html, which is also linked in this article.

"Customers with existing bookings on any remaining international or Australian domestic flight until 31 May 2020, who no longer wish to travel, can cancel their flight and retain the value of their booking as a flight credit."

So yes, passengers can cancel their flight and receive a travel credit voucher. ET is reporting exactly what Qantas has said. The special circumstances in the current environment clearly over-ride the normal 'conditions of carriage'.

Also in the linked ET article about Qantas refunds, here is a direct quote from Qantas to ET: “We have removed the standard change fees, where it applies, and are giving customers the option to cancel their flight and receive a travel voucher that can be used anywhere on our network at a later date.

So there is no change fee applied even if your booking was made on an inflexible Sale or Saver fare.

Regarding refunds, this is also from the Qantas page linked above: "Customers may also be able to cancel their booking and request a refund, however they may be charged a cancellation fee, as per our fare rules."

Also, I think ET has been doing an excellent job of keeping everyone up to date and informed and it can't be easy for the guys to stay on top of things with so much happening so quickly. I see ET publishing articles early morning and late at night and even this morning.

You - and this article - are correct that passengers can "choose" to hit "cancel" in their reservation for a credit.

What is missing, however - from your comment, Qantas, this and other sites - is advice to passengers that when Qantas cancels those flights, they are legally entitled to a cash refund if no suitable alternative flights can be offered if that's what they prefer.

It's a simple difference of who cancels the flight, but both Qantas and many sites continue to present the situation as though the only option for passengers now is to cancel a flight that's already been cancelled and settle for a voucher. That's not true. Qantas is cancelling, not the passenger, yet nowhere do I see Qantas or sites like this one advise people of who prefer a refund that they can simply wait until Qantas formally cancels their bookings to be entitled to one legally. I don't know why that's the case, nor am I suggesting ET is doing it cheekily, but a scan of comments on these articles makes it very clear that many people are confused and asking about this. There is a clear answer; it's just not being widely published.

[By the way, "special circumstances" do not override contractual terms. That's not how contractual law works. If Qantas had wanted to deny people cash refunds for cancellations even outside of their control, they would not have clearly stated the express opposite that they will provide refunds in those cases in their conditions of carriage even when the reason is out of their control. We can downvote that fact all we like, but it's a fact that doesn't care about likes, so I'd refer you to the Conditions of Carriage which take precedence over a web-page presenting a "policy" that conveniently forgets to make note of what happen once Qantas cancels these flights.]

Agree completely which is why I waited for Qantas to announce the cancellation of my specific international flights. After 4-hours on hold I was offered a credit as per the media release however, obtained a full refund after quoting 9.3 of the Conditions of Carriage.

I don't blame ET for muddling the message because Qantas wanted as many people to cancel on their own volition so that they can lock them to a future service in via a credit. The problem with a credit is not only that the poor time window of 12 months from date of issue of the original ticket, but also that it may be worthless if Qantas flies for bankruptcy.

100% this. The travel credit was so restrictive . I waited till qantas cancelled my flight to request for full refund, which they're obliged to do under their own conditions of carriage. Those who panicked or cancelled in advance, not so lucky.

Also I would not trust cancellation via their website which may automatically process refund less cancellation fees, for this reason, I would 100% recommend calling travel agency to confirm.

The relevant sections are 9.2 and 13.3. I've just checked and both are there. 9.2 sets out that you are entitled to a refund for cancelled flights even if the reason for cancellation is within Qantas' control, and 13.3 sets out how that refund is provided, and specifically back to the form of payment used.