Bucket/Paul,
I don't think much will change. Upon his return (or at some point after) I expect he'll be providing articles for the Advertiser again, it just won't be as a full time employee of News Ltd.
I guess it a bit like a sparky who works for a big company being let go and then having to go off and start his own business. He's still a sparky (and quite likely an exceptional one) regardless of whether he works for himself or a big company.
Bucket, your Dad will have to stop spending his hard earned pension on the Advertiser and like myself enjoy Boti's unedited work on his blog.