Ex-Ansett staff confront Minister
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Ex-Ansett staff confront Minister
AAP
Ex-Ansett staff confront Minister
July 31, 2002
FORMER Ansett staff and their unions have confronted federal Transport Minister John Anderson, demanding to know when the Government would pay out their entitlements.
Mr Anderson was launching the book, Ansett: The Collapse, at the airline's former Golden Wing Lounge at Melbourne Airport today when the delegation of Australian Services Union (ASU) members turned up to demand a meeting.
ASU Victorian secretary Martin Foley said members and staff were angry that the Federal Government would stand in line before employees to recoup from Ansett administrators the $300 million the Government paid out to partially cover employee entitlements.
At the same time, the Government was pulling in $11 million a month from the Ansett passenger ticket levy, none of which was being seen by employees, Mr Foley said.
Mr Anderson denied this was the case and said the levy had made it possible for the Government to hand out $330 million in loans to more than 12,000 employees in what had been the first program of its kind.
During the launch, Mr Anderson said the Government was disappointed the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) had closed its investigation into Ansett and parent company Air New Zealand.
He also apologised for earlier comments referring to the airline as a carcass.
"It wasn't a putdown. I said it in a moment of frustration at realising how bad the financial situation really was," Mr Anderson said.
Ansett administrator Mark Korda and solicitor Leon Zwyer attended the launch along with members of the Ansett family and staff.
Invitations had been sent out to Melbourne's businessmen Solomon Lew and Lindsay Fox, whose Tesna consortium was expected to buy Ansett's mainline operation but pulled out hours before the deal was sealed.
The book was written by journalist Geoff Easdown, who covered the tumultuous demise of the airline last year, and Peter Wilms, the media manager for the airline's administrator.
Mr Wilms said the businessmen had not responded to the invitations and declined to be interviewed for the book.
AAP
Ex-Ansett staff confront Minister
July 31, 2002
FORMER Ansett staff and their unions have confronted federal Transport Minister John Anderson, demanding to know when the Government would pay out their entitlements.
Mr Anderson was launching the book, Ansett: The Collapse, at the airline's former Golden Wing Lounge at Melbourne Airport today when the delegation of Australian Services Union (ASU) members turned up to demand a meeting.
ASU Victorian secretary Martin Foley said members and staff were angry that the Federal Government would stand in line before employees to recoup from Ansett administrators the $300 million the Government paid out to partially cover employee entitlements.
At the same time, the Government was pulling in $11 million a month from the Ansett passenger ticket levy, none of which was being seen by employees, Mr Foley said.
Mr Anderson denied this was the case and said the levy had made it possible for the Government to hand out $330 million in loans to more than 12,000 employees in what had been the first program of its kind.
During the launch, Mr Anderson said the Government was disappointed the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) had closed its investigation into Ansett and parent company Air New Zealand.
He also apologised for earlier comments referring to the airline as a carcass.
"It wasn't a putdown. I said it in a moment of frustration at realising how bad the financial situation really was," Mr Anderson said.
Ansett administrator Mark Korda and solicitor Leon Zwyer attended the launch along with members of the Ansett family and staff.
Invitations had been sent out to Melbourne's businessmen Solomon Lew and Lindsay Fox, whose Tesna consortium was expected to buy Ansett's mainline operation but pulled out hours before the deal was sealed.
The book was written by journalist Geoff Easdown, who covered the tumultuous demise of the airline last year, and Peter Wilms, the media manager for the airline's administrator.
Mr Wilms said the businessmen had not responded to the invitations and declined to be interviewed for the book.
AAP
