Wirraway
6th Oct 2004, 16:15
Thurs "The Australian"
ALP 'open mind' on Qantas
Katharine Murphy
October 07, 2004
LABOR has given its strongest hint a Latham government could overhaul regulations restricting foreign ownership in Qantas if it helped Australia's dominant carrier to preserve local jobs.
Labor transport spokesman Martin Ferguson said yesterday he had an open mind on the question of foreign ownership restrictions.
"Labor has said it is prepared to have a realistic discussion," Mr Ferguson told The Australian.
"I have an open mind on working with Qantas to ensure Australian jobs are protected," he said.
Qantas would be a strong supporter of any change in the current regime as the airline has campaigned in Canberra for years for an end to the restrictions that cap foreign ownership at 49 per cent.
Mr Ferguson pointed to recent developments in the aviation industry as being critical to Qantas's future.
Market watchers are expecting Singapore Airlines to seek partnerships with Qantas or Virgin Blue after its recent decision to sell its shares in Air New Zealand. British Airways has also recently sold its $1.1 billion stake in Qantas.
"The position of Qantas is in a state of flux. We will have to wait and see where the cards fall," Mr Ferguson said yesterday. His comments followed the release of Labor's land transport policy yesterday, covering issues such as road funding and commitments to develop intermodal transport links.
But the ALP's policy was attacked by the Coalition, with the Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson saying it revealed Labor planned to spend $3 billion less than the Coalition on transport.
"Today Martin Ferguson has revealed eight-and-a-half pages of gobbledegook, motherhood statements and glaring funding holes," Mr Anderson said.
"This extraordinary document has virtually no figures and no overall total, meaning it would be impossible for Treasury to do an independent costing even if it had time before an election to do so."
But Mr Ferguson angrily rejected Mr Anderson's analysis.
"John Anderson's suggestion that Labor is spending less than the Coalition on transport is a blatant lie in a desperate endeavour to gather votes," Mr Ferguson said.
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ALP 'open mind' on Qantas
Katharine Murphy
October 07, 2004
LABOR has given its strongest hint a Latham government could overhaul regulations restricting foreign ownership in Qantas if it helped Australia's dominant carrier to preserve local jobs.
Labor transport spokesman Martin Ferguson said yesterday he had an open mind on the question of foreign ownership restrictions.
"Labor has said it is prepared to have a realistic discussion," Mr Ferguson told The Australian.
"I have an open mind on working with Qantas to ensure Australian jobs are protected," he said.
Qantas would be a strong supporter of any change in the current regime as the airline has campaigned in Canberra for years for an end to the restrictions that cap foreign ownership at 49 per cent.
Mr Ferguson pointed to recent developments in the aviation industry as being critical to Qantas's future.
Market watchers are expecting Singapore Airlines to seek partnerships with Qantas or Virgin Blue after its recent decision to sell its shares in Air New Zealand. British Airways has also recently sold its $1.1 billion stake in Qantas.
"The position of Qantas is in a state of flux. We will have to wait and see where the cards fall," Mr Ferguson said yesterday. His comments followed the release of Labor's land transport policy yesterday, covering issues such as road funding and commitments to develop intermodal transport links.
But the ALP's policy was attacked by the Coalition, with the Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson saying it revealed Labor planned to spend $3 billion less than the Coalition on transport.
"Today Martin Ferguson has revealed eight-and-a-half pages of gobbledegook, motherhood statements and glaring funding holes," Mr Anderson said.
"This extraordinary document has virtually no figures and no overall total, meaning it would be impossible for Treasury to do an independent costing even if it had time before an election to do so."
But Mr Ferguson angrily rejected Mr Anderson's analysis.
"John Anderson's suggestion that Labor is spending less than the Coalition on transport is a blatant lie in a desperate endeavour to gather votes," Mr Ferguson said.
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