At 229 days out only those who *must* fly on that day will be booking now. The lower cost fare buckets are zeroed out to maximize the $$ QF will get
MEL to DPO Devonport TAS is not a popular destination. (Can take a ferry with your car, subsidized by federal govt as a "highway")

Short flights have a high cost per km

• Step 1: Advertising, selling tickets, check in, loading pax & bags, airport charges, fuel up, aircraft takeoff and climb to cruise altitude (high power). [very high cost]
• Step 2: Cruise at medium ~ low power, autopilot on, FA's down the back playing on phones ~ reading magazines. [a little harsh] [low cost]
• Step 3: Landing: airport charges, unloading pax & bags, park aircraft [high cost]

A lot of aircraft maintenance is per cycle (take off - landing). [high cost]. A lesser amount is per flying hour. [medium cost]