We're almost full circle now Ralph
These (ex-Ansett) "
airline industry veterans with thousand's of hours of type, international and in many cases command experience." gained their INITIAL positions by queue jumping, back in that year that has now proven to have been so fateful for Australian pilots.
Most of these "
airline industry veterans with thousand's of hours of type, international and in many cases command experience." had previous to 1989 been rejected outright employment with some/all of the airline employers.
In that year, "merit" (length of service) was seen fit to dispense with, and when the floodgates were opened, the flotsam and jetsam was allowed to flow in freely.
That which impressed an easily impressionable, desperate management was straightaway given positions that people previously had to (and were prepared to) wait several years service within the company to achieve.
Those who "returned", were treated with some degree of recognition for their previous service - usually.
It was by sheer "luck" that these previous rejects were able to score a position in what had previously been a respected airline.
The standard (of EVERYTHING) dropped thereafter, leading to its final demise due to a LACK OF STANDARDS.
The failure of Engineering in (the post pilots dispute) Ansett to maintain a MINIMUM STANDARD, was a reflection on the (crappy) standards (post 1989) Ansett management inflicted on the Australian public.
The Government saw Ansett as the real threat to public safety it had been allowed to develop into.
Keep your environment CLEAN.
S.G.