Prunehead (deleted personal abuse, it is possible to conduct a vigorous debate without resorting to the aforesaid. Steady on or it's the sin bin W)
John Howard rescued Australia when the Labor parties sent it broke. You just don't realise it. My payroll went from 22 to 7 when we had the recession we had to have. It's now north of 30. It would be more if the employment regulations were less one-sided.
Don't blame the politicians unless they are board members of Air New Zealand as well. The levy on tickets is a sensible way to cover the immediate need - to pay fair entitlements for those unfortunate ex-employees of Ansett.
Perhaps you prefer Beezlee's plan where the Australian taxpayer kicks in about half a billion dollars to keep Ansett flying for a couple of months? Sending good money after bad would be downright stupidity.
Make no mistake, one way or another we will end up paying for the mistakes of the board of Air New Zealand. Whether it's a levy on ticket, unemployment benefits or some other government assistance, you will pay.
[ 15 September 2001: Message edited by: Woomera ]