Bob Katter Bill
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Bob Katter Bill
Katter takes aim at Qantas, Virgin in Australia
From the Financial Review
Andrew Cleary
Independent MP Bob Katter has introduced a bill aimed at curbing any move by Qantas Airways to send its operations offshore, which would have the effect of barring Virgin Australia and Tiger Airways from the domestic market.
Under draft laws proposed by the Queenslander on Monday, which have scant chance of being supported by either major party, an airline would have to be majority Australian-owned and conduct at least 80 per cent of its maintenance locally if it wanted to keep access to domestic routes.
While the Qantas Sale Act already requires that the national carrier remain majority locally owned, Virgin Australia’s listed domestic arm is now majority foreign-owned after recent stake purchases by Etihad and Singapore Airlines, and Tiger Australia is wholly owned by its Singaporean parent.
Virgin has agreed to buy a 60 per cent stake in Tiger’s local operations, though the competition regulator has raised concerns about the return of the domestic aviation market to a duopoly.
Under Mr Katter’s proposed changes to the Air Navigation Act, an Australian airline would also not be able to operate international services from the country unless it were majority locally owned – a provision that would not affect Virgin due to the corporate split that capped foreign investment in its unlisted international operations at 49 per cent.
Mr Katter on Monday told parliament his family were early investors in Qantas but now the company had "been taken over by a grubby little group of slithering snakes from Sydney" who were only interested in making money for shareholders.
"They are flogging off the airline, cutting the services to make themselves rich," the AAP news wire reported Mr Katter as telling the lower house.
The bill is the most recent attempt by a federal politician to place greater restraints on Qantas and its strategy of growing internationally through the Jetstar franchise.
Late in 2011, Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce warned the company would have no choice but to sell off the group in parts if independent senator Nick Xenophon was successful in introducing “protectionist” legislation relating to heavy maintenance, training, and the use of foreign cabin crew.
Qantas’ head of government and corporate affairs, Olivia Wirth, said Mr Katter’s comments were “inaccurate and misleading”.
“Qantas is already majority Australian owned, which is a requirement under the Qantas Sale Act, and does the majority of its maintenance in Australia,” Ms Wirth said.
Comment has been sought from Virgin Australia.
Under Mr Katter's bill, an airline would have to meet the definition of being an "Australian operator" to have access to domestic flights and ports.
That definition includes that the company be 51 per cent owned by Australian citizens or residents, and that all airline crew on any domestic flight be domiciled in Australia.
Qantas has foreign cabin crew bases in London, for long-haul flights to the UK on the mainline carrier, while its Jetstar franchises employ cabin crew across Asia.
"What it really says is that Qantas will stay as an Australian company, will be based here and those maintenance engineers and technical staff, they will be based here," Mr Katter said.
"So if a plane gets into trouble it can be fixed here and not keep flying until something terrible happens."
Debate on the Aviation Laws Amendment (Australian Ownership and Operation) Bill 2013 was adjourned.
With AAP
From the Financial Review
Andrew Cleary
Independent MP Bob Katter has introduced a bill aimed at curbing any move by Qantas Airways to send its operations offshore, which would have the effect of barring Virgin Australia and Tiger Airways from the domestic market.
Under draft laws proposed by the Queenslander on Monday, which have scant chance of being supported by either major party, an airline would have to be majority Australian-owned and conduct at least 80 per cent of its maintenance locally if it wanted to keep access to domestic routes.
While the Qantas Sale Act already requires that the national carrier remain majority locally owned, Virgin Australia’s listed domestic arm is now majority foreign-owned after recent stake purchases by Etihad and Singapore Airlines, and Tiger Australia is wholly owned by its Singaporean parent.
Virgin has agreed to buy a 60 per cent stake in Tiger’s local operations, though the competition regulator has raised concerns about the return of the domestic aviation market to a duopoly.
Under Mr Katter’s proposed changes to the Air Navigation Act, an Australian airline would also not be able to operate international services from the country unless it were majority locally owned – a provision that would not affect Virgin due to the corporate split that capped foreign investment in its unlisted international operations at 49 per cent.
Mr Katter on Monday told parliament his family were early investors in Qantas but now the company had "been taken over by a grubby little group of slithering snakes from Sydney" who were only interested in making money for shareholders.
"They are flogging off the airline, cutting the services to make themselves rich," the AAP news wire reported Mr Katter as telling the lower house.
The bill is the most recent attempt by a federal politician to place greater restraints on Qantas and its strategy of growing internationally through the Jetstar franchise.
Late in 2011, Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce warned the company would have no choice but to sell off the group in parts if independent senator Nick Xenophon was successful in introducing “protectionist” legislation relating to heavy maintenance, training, and the use of foreign cabin crew.
Qantas’ head of government and corporate affairs, Olivia Wirth, said Mr Katter’s comments were “inaccurate and misleading”.
“Qantas is already majority Australian owned, which is a requirement under the Qantas Sale Act, and does the majority of its maintenance in Australia,” Ms Wirth said.
Comment has been sought from Virgin Australia.
Under Mr Katter's bill, an airline would have to meet the definition of being an "Australian operator" to have access to domestic flights and ports.
That definition includes that the company be 51 per cent owned by Australian citizens or residents, and that all airline crew on any domestic flight be domiciled in Australia.
Qantas has foreign cabin crew bases in London, for long-haul flights to the UK on the mainline carrier, while its Jetstar franchises employ cabin crew across Asia.
"What it really says is that Qantas will stay as an Australian company, will be based here and those maintenance engineers and technical staff, they will be based here," Mr Katter said.
"So if a plane gets into trouble it can be fixed here and not keep flying until something terrible happens."
Debate on the Aviation Laws Amendment (Australian Ownership and Operation) Bill 2013 was adjourned.
With AAP
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Old Bob (the hat) is known for being good with a gun, but occasionally one has to agree with him. A old fashioned concept to be sure, but sometimes a old fashioned way passes what is good today. We would all love to see QF always settled in her own home, cared for by Australians for Australians, for most, QF is so much part of this country, they are joined at the hip, and cannot ever be separated. But Bob, I don't know how your gunna do it.
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"What it really says is that Qantas will stay as an Australian company, will be based here and those maintenance engineers and technical staff, they will be based here," Mr Katter said.
"So if a plane gets into trouble it can be fixed here and not keep flying until something terrible happens."
"So if a plane gets into trouble it can be fixed here and not keep flying until something terrible happens."
The Speech!
I heard him today. It was quite a deep and meaningful speech he gave about his concern about Qantas. Just a shame he was cut short by the Speaker. Vote 1 I say!!!!
Aimed right at the National's heartland and let's hope the left winged pinkies can't highjack the debate and do a Hanson......He has started his campaign early and he will have a lot of support.....very smart.
…which would have the effect of barring Virgin Australia and Tiger Airways from the domestic market.
Last edited by Stiff Under Carriage; 11th Feb 2013 at 09:48.
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Bob will have my vote for sure. He's a wee bit of an unknown in federal politics but he cant do any worse than the turkey running the country at the moment. Go Bob!!!
Rocket
Rocket
Whilst a noble intention, the end result would be a domestic only Qantas with international code shares.
You can't compete with your hands tied behind your back and a rope around your neck.
Alan Joyce has the right idea. He's just going the wrong way about it. He is not the charismatic leader who can sell the dream to the staff.
Qantas international is screwed until it can compete on like terms with its competitors.
You can't compete with your hands tied behind your back and a rope around your neck.
Alan Joyce has the right idea. He's just going the wrong way about it. He is not the charismatic leader who can sell the dream to the staff.
Qantas international is screwed until it can compete on like terms with its competitors.
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The current mob can't be trusted....the opposition, composed primarily of ex howard muppets, are not to be trusted.....
.......the man in the hat is talking to me.....and on some other policies as well.....This proposal shows some ignorance for sure, as does some others, but so do ALP policies, and LNP Policies, we all know how it's going to pan out, so what's to lose!!!???
.......the man in the hat is talking to me.....and on some other policies as well.....This proposal shows some ignorance for sure, as does some others, but so do ALP policies, and LNP Policies, we all know how it's going to pan out, so what's to lose!!!???
Stiff Under Carriage
No you aren't the only one who noticed that. Any legislation that gives a company a monopoly of the domestic market is unacceptable. I'm a conservative but having flown Katter around quite a bit in the late 90's, all I can say is that he would be the last person I would vote for.
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No you aren't the only one who noticed that. Any legislation that gives a company a monopoly of the domestic market is unacceptable. I'm a conservative but having flown Katter around quite a bit in the late 90's, all I can say is that he would be the last person I would vote for.
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Qantas international is screwed until it can compete on like terms with its competitors.
Alan Joyce has the right idea. He's just going the wrong way about it. He is not the charismatic leader who can sell the dream to the staff.
He is one dimensional. It's all about Jetstar and cost cutting. He has dropped the ball and given all or most of the Qantas passengers to the competition, they are not even flying Jetstar.
He is a poor leader. To lead is to set an example for those you wish to have follow. His staff will never follow or support him. Anyone who can just shut down a business during a tantrum is not a leader, this will never be forgotten or forgiven by the staff.
Any legislation that gives a company a monopoly of the domestic market is unacceptable.
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You have to give the wily Silvertail an A+ for trying and actually giving half a toss about Australian issues whether he be right or wrong. Talk to a vast majority of his constituents, the bloke works hard, turns up in dusty town halls to face the community, doesn't demand business class airfares as the places Bob visits require a Robinson or a crop duster to get to, so to speak. No expensive wine and truffles, plus Bob deals with the real issues affecting the community, unlike the overpaid bureaucrat trough dwellers in Canberra. When do you hear the Gillard and Slugger NOT talking about leadership, spinning, lying and deceiving?? It's all about THEM and their desparation to retain their opulent taxpayer funded existence.
So whether a fan of Bobs or not, he has a go, right or wrong. Same goes for a number of Senators like Xenophon. Bob and Nick understand the Australian view of Qantas. It is part of our heritage, Hudson Fyshe created something that IS Australian, like it or not. People like Bob don't want to see that heritage become part of the history pages, something that QF's current managent and the spineless Liberals and Labor party couldn't give a stuff about.
Maybe it is time for Australians to take back Australia, considering the farcical job those at the top are doing?
So whether a fan of Bobs or not, he has a go, right or wrong. Same goes for a number of Senators like Xenophon. Bob and Nick understand the Australian view of Qantas. It is part of our heritage, Hudson Fyshe created something that IS Australian, like it or not. People like Bob don't want to see that heritage become part of the history pages, something that QF's current managent and the spineless Liberals and Labor party couldn't give a stuff about.
Maybe it is time for Australians to take back Australia, considering the farcical job those at the top are doing?
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Can someone explain how this Bill would force a monopoly? It's just saying that in order to operate domestically you need to have your maintenance done domestically. I'm sure there are plenty of ex-Qantas LAMEs who would be happy for the work....
Can someone explain how this Bill would force a monopoly? It's just saying that in order to operate domestically you need to have your maintenance done domestically. I'm sure there are plenty of ex-Qantas LAMEs who would be happy for the work....
Can someone explain how this Bill would force a monopoly? It's just saying that in order to operate domestically you need to have your maintenance done domestically. I'm sure there are plenty of ex-Qantas LAMEs who would be happy for the work....
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Great idea Bob.
In fact, while we're at it why don't we protect every other Australian business from that nasty, unfair foreign competition? Maybe you should draft a bill to prevent any Australian business at all from sourcing anything from overseas. Something like "if it's not grown, made, refined or extracted in Australia then it can't be sold to fair dinkum Aussie battlers". Hell, Aussie aircraft shouldn't be allowed to pick up fuel overseas either. They should tanker and keep supporting the Aussie fuel suppliers. Too far to tanker, well then you can't fly there I'm afraid.
I guess then seeing as we don't like what comes from overseas we really should stop exporting all of our best produce over there too. Wouldn't want to be hypocritical would we? What the hell, let's just close the borders completely.
I'm afraid we live in a consumer driven society. I really don't want to see any more jobs shipped overseas but companies should be left to make their own commercial decisions (good, or in QF's case, mostly bad) to a greater extent. If the public don't like those decisions, then they shouldn't give the company their hard earned money. If those decision lead to a incident or accident then the company will wear the fall out, both legal and PR from that.
Anyone that considers voting for Bab Katter based on this bill alone, without any regard to any of the other policies he claims to have, is an idiot in my opinion. Christ, if it only take one stupid promise to win a load of votes, I might get out of the airline game and get into politics myself. Vote for me and all airline employees will have their statutory 9% super lifter to minimum 15%. Sound good? Righto, lets watch the votes roll in now. No idea how to make the policy work or any regard for what happens afterwards in terms of commercial or employment fallout? Don't worry about that now. Bob certainly doesn't........
In fact, while we're at it why don't we protect every other Australian business from that nasty, unfair foreign competition? Maybe you should draft a bill to prevent any Australian business at all from sourcing anything from overseas. Something like "if it's not grown, made, refined or extracted in Australia then it can't be sold to fair dinkum Aussie battlers". Hell, Aussie aircraft shouldn't be allowed to pick up fuel overseas either. They should tanker and keep supporting the Aussie fuel suppliers. Too far to tanker, well then you can't fly there I'm afraid.
I guess then seeing as we don't like what comes from overseas we really should stop exporting all of our best produce over there too. Wouldn't want to be hypocritical would we? What the hell, let's just close the borders completely.
I'm afraid we live in a consumer driven society. I really don't want to see any more jobs shipped overseas but companies should be left to make their own commercial decisions (good, or in QF's case, mostly bad) to a greater extent. If the public don't like those decisions, then they shouldn't give the company their hard earned money. If those decision lead to a incident or accident then the company will wear the fall out, both legal and PR from that.
Anyone that considers voting for Bab Katter based on this bill alone, without any regard to any of the other policies he claims to have, is an idiot in my opinion. Christ, if it only take one stupid promise to win a load of votes, I might get out of the airline game and get into politics myself. Vote for me and all airline employees will have their statutory 9% super lifter to minimum 15%. Sound good? Righto, lets watch the votes roll in now. No idea how to make the policy work or any regard for what happens afterwards in terms of commercial or employment fallout? Don't worry about that now. Bob certainly doesn't........
Last edited by anawanahuanana; 12th Feb 2013 at 02:16.
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Well, Qantas is part of Australia's heritage and history and is as endeared as Vegemite and the Opera House.
Virgin and Tiger?? Give me a break, new kids on the block with no cultural significance.
All these airlines offer the same low budget service (incl QF). My point is more from a historical perspective. On that basis alone I would be happy to see QF supported, protected even shielded if you will. As for the others? Who cares...
Virgin and Tiger?? Give me a break, new kids on the block with no cultural significance.
All these airlines offer the same low budget service (incl QF). My point is more from a historical perspective. On that basis alone I would be happy to see QF supported, protected even shielded if you will. As for the others? Who cares...
Last edited by my oleo is extended; 12th Feb 2013 at 02:49.