Pasted below is the BS reply I just received from the current transport minister. All we can hope for now is that labour become the next government of Australia on Oct 9th :
Thank you for your correspondence of 4 August 2004 to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport and Regional Services, the Hon John Anderson MP, concerning Qantas’s plans to base additional staff overseas. The Minister has asked me to reply on his behalf.
The Department is aware of Qantas’ announcement that it will base 400 of its international cabin staff overseas. Ultimately staffing decisions are a commercial decision for the Company. While the loss of any Australian job is regrettable, experience has shown that Government intervention in labour market decisions of this type results in fewer, not more, jobs for Australians by reducing the competitiveness of our industries.