Peuce:
Yes, corporations, in principle, have the right to decide their own direction. However, there are certain corporations that have an additional national responsibility?
Qantas, because of how its present entity was formed, and because of the additional responsibilities attached to that creation, is such a corporation.
Although those responsibilities may be more onerous than those of other public companies, they were known or implied, and accepted, at the time of creation.
Those responsibilities mean that Qantas is, in fact, owned not only be the shareholders, but by every Australian.
Yes, the shareholders own the profits, however, every other Australian is entitled to the employment opportunities, the supply opportunities, the training opportunities and the prestige offered by the Qantas brand being wholly based within Australia.
Moving any of those opportunities offshore is stealing from Australian pockets.
YES THIS IS THE MESSAGE THAT NEEDS TO BE TOLD OVER AND OVER AGAIN!!