GT don't go in with pre-conceived ideas:
Compass may have had a naieve business plan but had become so popular that it was seriously hurting Ansett, its CEO later admitting that Ansett was at that time within weeks of collapsing.
The Australian Government (PM close friends with Abeles of Ansett) had for months been in a dispute with Compass re the allaged under-payment of Air Nav Charges (a complex issue not settled for many years after the 'collapse').
Why then would the government wait until of all times December 20th to pull the pin on Compass? This was the peak Christmas travelling time for Aussies and if there had been issues with the financial performance of Compass then Christmas was surely the time for the airline to rake in $ and thus have more chance of repaying the disputed charges?
No, the real reason why they chose Dec 20th was to cause maximum havoc amongst the public in an attempt to make travellers revolt against low-fare carriers (given the success of the Ryanairs, Virgins and Tigers this was an eminently foolish concept Mr BDW).
Who were the 'they'? Seems the contacts listed in previous posts might be worth persuing.
The plan (Operation Sewn-Up) was swiftly executed. Ansett and Australian 727's were already re-commissioned and ready to roll to rescue stranded passengers (simultaneously hoping to improve the image of the incumbent airlines) and the government had already fast-tracked the removal of Compass aircraft to overseas lessors, thereby lessening any chance of resurrection.
This was an ultimately foolish act aimed at propping up the PM's friend the part-owner of Ansett, a financial basket-case which inevitably collapsed some time later.
The fact that such governmental bastadry has gone unquestioned is very sad for a country which prides itself on true democratic and capitalistic processes. Jsut like the QF/APA foolishness 16 years later it seems that the chief playes in these acts of bastardy get away scott-free (and often with big financial bonuses).
Its thuggery masquerading as free-enterprise.
There is little incentive for such stories to be told. Particularly if the 'independent' journalist relies directly or indirectly on some of of those involved in the Compass plot who are still active (or in Peter's case at the periphery of the aviation industry) for their income.