Jridge & Edy Point 1, what you mention is the reverse of what he's doing. Only on departing Aus is he connecting in OOL.
OK, here's the full story: He arrives Dec. 9 in OOL where he will spend 30 hours with a friend who will drop him off at BNE for a nonstop QF flight to CBR on Dec. 10, where he will spend 2 days for his brother's graduation, then drive/ride with his other brother to Sydney on Dec. 12 to visit their mother.
Trouble is, he grabbed a return half OOL-NRT on JQ at 10:50 AM on Dec. 14 because he found a mistake fare on CheapoAir.com of ~US$170 roundtrip ! QF & Virgin each have a 9 AM flight SYD--OOL arriving 9:25 or 9:30. Virgin's fare is $10 cheaper, which is overwhelmed by their A$70 bag fee vs. none on QF. Because of job constraints in Japan, his time in Australia is short, so I hate to tell him to take a Sat. evening flight from SYD (or CBR) to OOL!
IF I had my way, he would fly SYD--NRT nonstop, but that bargain fare was too juicy for him to pass up!

BTW, Marty is a dual citizen of Australia & USA, so no visa issues.