The Q in Qantas stands for Queensland (not Sydney or Melbourne).Now that Andy Burnham is back in Westmisnter the UK will be "Manchesterised".Briabane to Manchester direct makes perfect sense.After all Qantas used to fly 747's into Manchester. 

Rumours that this is another step on the route to a merger with a UK budget carrier to form QeasyJet are said to be ill founded.