OPEN SKIES - bull****! Australian Industry protected from cheap imports?
Qantas/VA as Australian airlines NEED protection from these cheap "imports". You say its an open market? WHY
Try buying a car overseas, even if it complies to ADRs here. For example buy a BMW IN the UK and import it at a $50,000 saving over Aussie costs. Try buying a Harley in the USA at 50% under the Aussie cost and importing it. You cant register and use those vehicles here, simply because the local industry is protected.
So why are the airlines allowed open slather on any route they want? Look at Emirates being limited to routes in Europe and Canada. If Emirates wants to fly to Australia tell them they are must fly into Cairns, Gold Coast and 1 flight a day into capital cities. Its called protecting Australia industry and jobs - just like they do in the motor industry.
Same with the likes of Air Asia X. Wheres the import tax and gst on their tickets, just like the taxes you pay when you import a car? 40 years ago a flight to the UK was $2000, same as it is today. Back then a Holden was $5000, now its $35000. Somewhere a long the line Qantas has been screwed by this open skies nonsense. If the UK was $3000 it would still be a bargain.
If the Government can protect the motor industry why isnt the Aviation Industry afforded the same protection from what are effectively "cheap imports" ?????
Have you noticed the millions of dollars handed to the foreign companies like Ford, Holden and Toyota. Yes foreign companies handed tax payers dollars to save Australian industry.
Simple - ad $200 tax to every international flight on every airline. Then hand the Australian owned airlines a subsidy - just the same as they hand the subsify to car makers. At least the subsidy to QF/VA is going to an Australian owned and based company
Its time to start fighting the Government. These foreign airlines pay no company tax in Australia the way Qantas does AND their employees dont pay income tax the way Qantas employees do!!. What does the Government give back to Aviation? Yet it gives millions to the car makers, why? It's not all Qantas' fault it cant compete. Imagine if everybody was free to buy a new BMW off a Malaysian distributor the same way you can buy a ticket to the UK of a Malaysian airline.
I think its time unions started on the Government the way the car unions do