MELBOURNE, Sept 7 AAP - The federal government was making noises
about helping out troubled airline Ansett to win votes in the
upcoming election, Australian Democrats leader Natasha Stott
Despoja said today.
Senator Stott Despoja said the role of the government in terms
of the industry and airline ownership should be examined and was
critical of previous governments selling out of the industry.
"Previous governments should be ashamed that they divested its
interest in the aviation industry," she said.
"If it is such a good idea, why does it not apply to a
government-owned airline," she told reporter," she added.
She said Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister John
Anderson was not specific in his plans to rescue Australia's second
airline.
"The government is only doing it because this is an election
year," she said.
Senator Stott Despoja said the government had not said what
measures should be taken to bail the airline out and Mr Anderson
did not indicate the cost of any rescue package.
Ansett is reportedly making a loss of $1 million a day and
17,000 jobs are at risk.
AAP