MERGED: Alan's still not happy......
I hesitated to post because some people think it is off topic, but I do (hope not!!) that it has significance. If only as background. SP would know more. My guess is he thought he was too far off the PM's job with too many in front of him. At least the Odious Wirth won't (again hopefully not) be 1st 'lady'. I think I'd even rather Joyce in that role! I don't think Howes is a fool, probably his 'anti AWU' speech was feathering a post Union nest rather than anything untoward politically. I _really_really_ hope he and worthless leave QF alone!!
AWU?s Paul Howes calls it quits
Re the Jet* leases. I am 'convinced' Qf are paying for the leases (as I guess most are) but I am equally certain that Qf will have a large array of possibilities for answering Sen Xen's 'on notice' question as to how much the storage/leasing is costing. I can't see themselves being dumb enough to leave a simple thing like that open to hang them. They have not closed any doors on that answer with their 'answers' so far... I was stunned at Joyce's audacity to say 'he didn't know' when clearly the CEO should be on top of such painful losses and the reasons they are worth enduring. It was (as usual) a cunning dance around the topic by minions and Joyce. A sickening display of why the place is in the state it is.
AWU?s Paul Howes calls it quits
JOE ASTON AND PHILLIP COOREY
The national secretary of the Australian Workers’ Union, Paul Howes, is expected to quit the union movement on Monday, robbing Labor of one its *rising stars and the union movement of a strong advocate for reform.
The union leader has been quietly preparing senior Labor Party and ACTU figures for his resignation, according to ALP sources close to the move.
It is not known what Mr Howes will do next, although he is marrying *Qantas executive Olivia Wirth in April. Mr Howes, who is scheduled to attend an AWU national executive meeting in Perth on Monday, did not respond to The Australian Financial Review’s questions on Sunday.
The Financial Review has been told he had been seeking a job in the corporate sector but it is understood Mr Howes has no immediate plans.
His departure from the trade union movement, with which he has been associated since 1999, is not regarded by those close to him as the end of his *political aspirations.
Only 32 years old, Mr Howes has plenty of time before he needs to enter federal Parliament, should he so wish.
After an aborted tilt at the Senate last year, he had fixed his sights over the longer term on a lower house seat.
Mr Howes replaced Bill Shorten at the helm of the AWU in 2007, when Mr Shorten, now Opposition Leader, entered Parliament.
The AWU’s assistant national secretary, Scott McDine, is expected to succeed Mr Howes as national secretary of the 135,000-member union.
Mr Howes has endured a gruelling past few years and people close to him said he was looking for a change.
It is understood that he has been frustrated at the labour movement’s response to his calls for modernisation.
When Bob Carr quit the Senate *following Labor’s election loss last year, Mr Howes, a key figure in the NSW Right, lost a fight to take the spot. His support for gay marriage and his closeness to the Jewish lobby was used against him internally.
This followed a torrid period for the so-called faceless man who remained loyal to former prime minister Julia *Gillard throughout her leadership *skirmishes with Kevin Rudd.
AWU TARGET OF COMMISSION
When Mr Shorten abandoned Ms Gillard in June last year to help reinstall Mr Rudd as Labor leader and prime minister, relations between Mr Shorten and Mr Howes cooled significantly.
His departure will leave the labour movement without one of its strongest and most outspoken voices.
Ms Wirth also suffered professionally because of her association with Mr Howes, losing her government relations role with Qantas and moving to a senior marketing and branding role for the airline.
Mr Howes leaves the labour movement as the Abbott government is mounting a full-scale assault on trade unions with its royal commission into union corruption.
The AWU is a specific target of the commission because of a slush fund operated by a former boyfriend of Ms Gillard’s more than two decades ago.
Mr Howes has been a fierce critic and opponent of corruption during his years in the movement.
Last year, he called on Labor to support laws proposed by Tony Abbott to bring penalties for corrupt union bosses into line with those of corrupt corporate executives.
Mr Howes is set to shed all his political duties.
It is likely he will resign his position on the Labor Party’s national executive and will step down as vice-president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions. He has also been one of the more progressive thinkers on policy and labour movement reform.
In his speech to the National Press Club in February, he called for a “grand compact” between business and unions. But he was criticised heavily by many on his own side, moreover because of his excoriation of both side of politics for the policy see-saw which industrial relations policy has become. He chipped those in Labor for decrying every Coalition policy utterance as WorkChoices and acknowledged the current Fair Work Act had resulted in unsustainable wages growth in some sectors, such as offshore oil and gas.
His departure comes more as a shock given the speech was regarded as Mr Howes setting sights politically as a reformer. He is a non-executive director and deputy chairman of the country’s largest industry superannuation fund AustralianSuper.
Mr Howes writes a regular column for the Financial Review.
The national secretary of the Australian Workers’ Union, Paul Howes, is expected to quit the union movement on Monday, robbing Labor of one its *rising stars and the union movement of a strong advocate for reform.
The union leader has been quietly preparing senior Labor Party and ACTU figures for his resignation, according to ALP sources close to the move.
It is not known what Mr Howes will do next, although he is marrying *Qantas executive Olivia Wirth in April. Mr Howes, who is scheduled to attend an AWU national executive meeting in Perth on Monday, did not respond to The Australian Financial Review’s questions on Sunday.
The Financial Review has been told he had been seeking a job in the corporate sector but it is understood Mr Howes has no immediate plans.
His departure from the trade union movement, with which he has been associated since 1999, is not regarded by those close to him as the end of his *political aspirations.
Only 32 years old, Mr Howes has plenty of time before he needs to enter federal Parliament, should he so wish.
After an aborted tilt at the Senate last year, he had fixed his sights over the longer term on a lower house seat.
Mr Howes replaced Bill Shorten at the helm of the AWU in 2007, when Mr Shorten, now Opposition Leader, entered Parliament.
The AWU’s assistant national secretary, Scott McDine, is expected to succeed Mr Howes as national secretary of the 135,000-member union.
Mr Howes has endured a gruelling past few years and people close to him said he was looking for a change.
It is understood that he has been frustrated at the labour movement’s response to his calls for modernisation.
When Bob Carr quit the Senate *following Labor’s election loss last year, Mr Howes, a key figure in the NSW Right, lost a fight to take the spot. His support for gay marriage and his closeness to the Jewish lobby was used against him internally.
This followed a torrid period for the so-called faceless man who remained loyal to former prime minister Julia *Gillard throughout her leadership *skirmishes with Kevin Rudd.
AWU TARGET OF COMMISSION
When Mr Shorten abandoned Ms Gillard in June last year to help reinstall Mr Rudd as Labor leader and prime minister, relations between Mr Shorten and Mr Howes cooled significantly.
His departure will leave the labour movement without one of its strongest and most outspoken voices.
Ms Wirth also suffered professionally because of her association with Mr Howes, losing her government relations role with Qantas and moving to a senior marketing and branding role for the airline.
Mr Howes leaves the labour movement as the Abbott government is mounting a full-scale assault on trade unions with its royal commission into union corruption.
The AWU is a specific target of the commission because of a slush fund operated by a former boyfriend of Ms Gillard’s more than two decades ago.
Mr Howes has been a fierce critic and opponent of corruption during his years in the movement.
Last year, he called on Labor to support laws proposed by Tony Abbott to bring penalties for corrupt union bosses into line with those of corrupt corporate executives.
Mr Howes is set to shed all his political duties.
It is likely he will resign his position on the Labor Party’s national executive and will step down as vice-president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions. He has also been one of the more progressive thinkers on policy and labour movement reform.
In his speech to the National Press Club in February, he called for a “grand compact” between business and unions. But he was criticised heavily by many on his own side, moreover because of his excoriation of both side of politics for the policy see-saw which industrial relations policy has become. He chipped those in Labor for decrying every Coalition policy utterance as WorkChoices and acknowledged the current Fair Work Act had resulted in unsustainable wages growth in some sectors, such as offshore oil and gas.
His departure comes more as a shock given the speech was regarded as Mr Howes setting sights politically as a reformer. He is a non-executive director and deputy chairman of the country’s largest industry superannuation fund AustralianSuper.
Mr Howes writes a regular column for the Financial Review.
Last edited by V-Jet; 23rd Mar 2014 at 21:42.
If Howe runs true to form like so many other former union creeps, he will go to work for Qantas.
Part of it went:
"The working class can kiss my a***,
I've found a Qantas job at last".
Bottums Up
Just a little thread drift as the union bashing comes in.
Spare a thought for poor Arthur. Icon of the Liberal Right. Earning a paltry $200k for 100 hours work. And it's unions and workers who are blamed for all economic ills.
Spare a thought for poor Arthur. Icon of the Liberal Right. Earning a paltry $200k for 100 hours work. And it's unions and workers who are blamed for all economic ills.
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all together now, well that was back in 1973,
Now the landscape has changed to big business & government, the employees are at their mercy.
all together now, well that was back in 1973,
Now the landscape has changed to big business & government, the employees are at their mercy.
Last edited by TIMA9X; 26th Mar 2014 at 14:19. Reason: add video after storm blackout
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I wouldn't be surprised if Olivia has already created a position for Howes in Qantas.
BTW, would anyone know if Paul Howes is related to Mark Howes HR Director (might be former) of Ericsson Australia? I may have something of interest to post.
BTW, would anyone know if Paul Howes is related to Mark Howes HR Director (might be former) of Ericsson Australia? I may have something of interest to post.
Paul Howes was sued by his step father for (among other things) 'political grandstanding' in a Women's Weekly article. It was settled. Gary Howes is in mining and an ex Policeman. His real father I know not of.
Either Howes is leaving a sinking ship (AWU) for fear of what might come out in a Royal Commission (and I'm led to believe if he isn't living in Australia he doesn't have to testify) to run away, wait for the chance to jump back in as an ALP White Knight or some other opportunity.
Given Livvie's rumoured $1m salary (could I be more proud to work for Qantas!) he could spend his life playing bingo at the local pub and still struggle by better than most/all of us.
I sincerely hope any other opportunity doesn't involve his invaluable skills in Employee Relations at Qantas with that horrid and totally out of her depth Wirthless.
I would hope it's impossible, but every time I write something off as being too wrong to happen, in Qf's case, I am constantly disappointed.
Either Howes is leaving a sinking ship (AWU) for fear of what might come out in a Royal Commission (and I'm led to believe if he isn't living in Australia he doesn't have to testify) to run away, wait for the chance to jump back in as an ALP White Knight or some other opportunity.
Given Livvie's rumoured $1m salary (could I be more proud to work for Qantas!) he could spend his life playing bingo at the local pub and still struggle by better than most/all of us.
I sincerely hope any other opportunity doesn't involve his invaluable skills in Employee Relations at Qantas with that horrid and totally out of her depth Wirthless.
I would hope it's impossible, but every time I write something off as being too wrong to happen, in Qf's case, I am constantly disappointed.
Is it just me, or is Paul Howes looking terribly aged for 32? One article I read said he's burnt out, no conspiracies - I would believe it.
Does that make Olivia Wirth a cougar? She'd be pushing 40 wouldn't she?
Does that make Olivia Wirth a cougar? She'd be pushing 40 wouldn't she?
TIMA9X,
A big thankyou for posting the Senate enquiry vids. Have just finished watching them and am a bit perplexed by that little cretin boasting about safety is our 1st priority, our safety record is the envy of airlines the world over, the unions are scaremongering by pulling the old safety card etc, etc, etc.
Nobody has asked that little cretin who actually built our enviable safety record to what it is today. I can only think of 2 departments who did this... Flt ops and Engineering.
Now he wants to offshore a great wack of maintenance and dumb down whats left back here. GOD HELP QANTAS AND ALL WHO SAIL IN HER...
McHale.
A big thankyou for posting the Senate enquiry vids. Have just finished watching them and am a bit perplexed by that little cretin boasting about safety is our 1st priority, our safety record is the envy of airlines the world over, the unions are scaremongering by pulling the old safety card etc, etc, etc.
Nobody has asked that little cretin who actually built our enviable safety record to what it is today. I can only think of 2 departments who did this... Flt ops and Engineering.
Now he wants to offshore a great wack of maintenance and dumb down whats left back here. GOD HELP QANTAS AND ALL WHO SAIL IN HER...
McHale.
I am sure anyone who watched George Pell give evidence today at the child abuse commission, noticed the similarity to Alan Joyce,as we had yet another leader responding to questions,with, "I cant recall" etc etc.................followed by 4 corners and the non appearance of the leaders of 2 australian art galleries...................whose oversight was sadly lacking in relation to the purchase of what appear to be stolen pieces of art, one to the tune of 5 million dollars of tax payers money!
We must all be grateful for the quality and accountability of leadership we have in this country!!
We must all be grateful for the quality and accountability of leadership we have in this country!!
Paraphrasing that famous scene.....(sick of the 'Der Untergang' one)
We use words like airmanship, safety. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent flying for this airline. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a CEO who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very safety that I provide, and then questions the cost of providing it.
Isn't that the truth...
Moderator
Senator X deserves a medal for maintaining his integrity and rationality despite his continuous exposure to the ignorance and ego-driven bullsh*t that passes itself off as 'party politics' in our Federal capital. Sadly, his criticisms of Joyce's 'management' of Qantas will probably be seen as bias by AJ's mates in the (Chairman's Lounge) political right, and his call for a review of the mindless Open Skies Policy may well take too long to save the Roo from continued capacity-dumping in the domestic aviation market or the Leprechaun's next effort at Orange Asian expansion.
As I approach my more mature years, I have become increasingly disillusioned with the farce that passes itself off as national governance in Canberra. As evidenced by the recent Senate hearings, many politicians lack the knowledge to be able to competently tackle complex issues, with some not even being diligent enough to read the expert submissions of those like Steve P who are in a position to explain the issues for them. Instead, we are subjected to grandstanding bullies like Senator Evans, to whom anything other than 'blue ribbon Liberal policies' are like a red flag to a bull. A political career nowadays seems to represent nothing more than an opportunity to provide favours for one's preferred interest groups prior to retiring from Canberra and cashing in on those favours.
The one exception to the above comments, in my opinion, is Senator Nick Xenophon, who is obviously highly intelligent and seems to be generally concerned with the welfare of the nation's population that he serves. If only we could clone him about 200 times, abolish all political parties and let proposals stand or fall in Parliament on their merits, rather than through the 'mine's bigger than yours' approach of current party politics. Unfortunately, Nick seems to be unique and the only options offered as alternatives to the entrenched political parties are redneck miner's or fish-and-chips shop owners from the North.
To Senator Xenophon I would say, congratulations on your unwavering efforts to improve the level of informed political debate in this country and long may you keep the bastards honest!
As I approach my more mature years, I have become increasingly disillusioned with the farce that passes itself off as national governance in Canberra. As evidenced by the recent Senate hearings, many politicians lack the knowledge to be able to competently tackle complex issues, with some not even being diligent enough to read the expert submissions of those like Steve P who are in a position to explain the issues for them. Instead, we are subjected to grandstanding bullies like Senator Evans, to whom anything other than 'blue ribbon Liberal policies' are like a red flag to a bull. A political career nowadays seems to represent nothing more than an opportunity to provide favours for one's preferred interest groups prior to retiring from Canberra and cashing in on those favours.
The one exception to the above comments, in my opinion, is Senator Nick Xenophon, who is obviously highly intelligent and seems to be generally concerned with the welfare of the nation's population that he serves. If only we could clone him about 200 times, abolish all political parties and let proposals stand or fall in Parliament on their merits, rather than through the 'mine's bigger than yours' approach of current party politics. Unfortunately, Nick seems to be unique and the only options offered as alternatives to the entrenched political parties are redneck miner's or fish-and-chips shop owners from the North.
To Senator Xenophon I would say, congratulations on your unwavering efforts to improve the level of informed political debate in this country and long may you keep the bastards honest!
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Shark Patrol.
Well said indeed, but instead of seeing despair, there may well be another solution.
If the motorists party can get someone into the senate, why cannot the aviation sector do the same, in all states?
There is 2 years to get suitable candidates, and mobilise.
Give Nick some company.
Well said indeed, but instead of seeing despair, there may well be another solution.
If the motorists party can get someone into the senate, why cannot the aviation sector do the same, in all states?
There is 2 years to get suitable candidates, and mobilise.
Give Nick some company.
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No surprises in this lot -
Report ? Parliament of Australia
LNP recommend Bill be passed by Senate.
ALP/GRN/SENX recommend it be rejected.
Report ? Parliament of Australia
LNP recommend Bill be passed by Senate.
ALP/GRN/SENX recommend it be rejected.
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To Senator Xenophon I would say, congratulations on your unwavering efforts to improve the level of informed political debate in this country and long may you keep the bastards honest!
Nick X said..
1.1 The views in this Dissenting Report can be summarised as follows:
a. Qantas is in a crisis largely of its own making, due to its failed foray into Asia with its Jetstar Asian operations;
b. Current Australian accounting rules do not prevent cost-shifting from one part or entity of a group to another;
c. It appears that CEO Mr Alan Joyce, the Chairman Mr Leigh Clifford and the Board have lurched from one failed strategy to another;
1.2 At the outset, I believe it is vital to place this bill in its proper context.
Qantas has been struggling as a business since at least 2009[1], and there has yet to be any substantial improvement. My strong view is that before the government takes any action to alter the current legislative environment or to offer any other assistance we need to have a full understanding of the reasons behind Qantas' difficulties.
Any measures put in place without this understanding may end up being merely a costly band-aid solution, or even no solution at all.
1.3 I have said publicly that I have serious concerns about the management of Qantas, and in particular about decisions made by Mr Joyce and members of the Board, and in particular the Chairman Mr Leigh Clifford, in relation to the future
of the company. I note that others, including the government, have said this is a matter for shareholders; however, if the government is considering taking action to assist Qantas, then clearly this becomes a matter for the government and for the people of Australia, on whose behalf the government is acting.
1.4 The issues relating to Qantas' management strategy are many and complex. Australian accounting standards and the structure of the Qantas Group mean it is often difficult to get a full understanding of its financial operations. I hope this will be addressed in greater detail through the current Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee's inquiry into Qantas' future as a strong national carrier supporting jobs in Australia.
1.5 In particular, my concerns centre around the apparent focus on the Jetstar brand at the expense of Qantas. This includes the rapid growth of the Jetstar fleet
(now estimated to be nearly 60 per cent the size of Qantas' fleet) and suggestions of cost-shifting between the arms of the business to make Jetstar appear more profitable, and Qantas International less so. I note that under current Australian accounting and corporate governance rules, this level of cost-shifting within group accounts is permissible.
1.6 Tied in with this is the establishment of the Jetstar brands in Asia, and in particular Jetstar Hong Kong, which has not yet received regulatory approval
to operate. This has resulted in the airline's nine Airbus planes being stranded in France and unable to fly, at an estimated cost of $3 million a month.[2] There are also questions regarding leasing arrangements between Jetstar in Asia and the Qantas Group, and whether they are structured so as to deliver a profit to the Asian carriers. In a hearing for the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee,
a. Qantas is in a crisis largely of its own making, due to its failed foray into Asia with its Jetstar Asian operations;
b. Current Australian accounting rules do not prevent cost-shifting from one part or entity of a group to another;
c. It appears that CEO Mr Alan Joyce, the Chairman Mr Leigh Clifford and the Board have lurched from one failed strategy to another;
1.2 At the outset, I believe it is vital to place this bill in its proper context.
Qantas has been struggling as a business since at least 2009[1], and there has yet to be any substantial improvement. My strong view is that before the government takes any action to alter the current legislative environment or to offer any other assistance we need to have a full understanding of the reasons behind Qantas' difficulties.
Any measures put in place without this understanding may end up being merely a costly band-aid solution, or even no solution at all.
1.3 I have said publicly that I have serious concerns about the management of Qantas, and in particular about decisions made by Mr Joyce and members of the Board, and in particular the Chairman Mr Leigh Clifford, in relation to the future
of the company. I note that others, including the government, have said this is a matter for shareholders; however, if the government is considering taking action to assist Qantas, then clearly this becomes a matter for the government and for the people of Australia, on whose behalf the government is acting.
1.4 The issues relating to Qantas' management strategy are many and complex. Australian accounting standards and the structure of the Qantas Group mean it is often difficult to get a full understanding of its financial operations. I hope this will be addressed in greater detail through the current Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee's inquiry into Qantas' future as a strong national carrier supporting jobs in Australia.
1.5 In particular, my concerns centre around the apparent focus on the Jetstar brand at the expense of Qantas. This includes the rapid growth of the Jetstar fleet
(now estimated to be nearly 60 per cent the size of Qantas' fleet) and suggestions of cost-shifting between the arms of the business to make Jetstar appear more profitable, and Qantas International less so. I note that under current Australian accounting and corporate governance rules, this level of cost-shifting within group accounts is permissible.
1.6 Tied in with this is the establishment of the Jetstar brands in Asia, and in particular Jetstar Hong Kong, which has not yet received regulatory approval
to operate. This has resulted in the airline's nine Airbus planes being stranded in France and unable to fly, at an estimated cost of $3 million a month.[2] There are also questions regarding leasing arrangements between Jetstar in Asia and the Qantas Group, and whether they are structured so as to deliver a profit to the Asian carriers. In a hearing for the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee,
It is the carrier's first net loss since it was privatised in July 1995, having previously slipped into the red in 1993. Qantas shares closed down 26.5 cents or 18.6 per cent, wiping more than $600 million from its market capitalisation of $3.2 billion Cookies must be enabled. | The Australian
About a billion dollars down since June 2012 and we won't know how much more until the next reporting period which traditionally is the slower half, ... Nick X is right on the money unlike the Liberals who in my view have been hoodwinked by the Qantas management team. I think Nick X made the Liberals look like fools with no talent, they have completely misunderstood the entire situation at Qantas created by the management themselves..
(To be fair the Labor Senators did a good job with many of their questions)
As I approach my more mature years, I have become increasingly disillusioned with the farce that passes itself off as national governance in Canberra. As evidenced by the recent Senate hearings, many politicians lack the knowledge to be able to competently tackle complex issues,