I can see something good out of this.... it might actually finally kill off Jetstar! (or at least get them to grow up).
Ok back in the 90's etc we were happy with a single screen at the front of the cabin and we all watched the same show - but these days we are used to having our own personalised entertainment. Jetstar's "no-frills" flights are nothing but a reversion to the basics - but if we cant even have our laptops on them then they will really suffer.
For the cheap-flights to Bali & other holiday locations - I can just imagine the noise when families get told they cant take the electronic baby-sitter on the flight with them - those families will either not go or pay the extra and fly with an airline that does provide a full service... then there is the "business" linkage in/out of Singapore, Hong Kong & the rest of Asia - I think there are more laptops on those flights than there are seats! What are they going to do?
Of course none of this worries the politicians - most of them couldnt even turn a computer on by themselves... and sitting up in first class/business class they get all the entertainment (and booze) they want..... (oh and I doubt if any of them ever travel Jetstar outside of Australia).....