
Issue No 114		05 October 2001

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Satire

Qantas Denies New $7770 Domestic Fares 'Exploitative'

From The Chaser

Australia's largest domestic carrier Qantas has rejected suggestions that it's new $7770 fares between Sydney and Melbourne are taking advantage of the airline's recently inherited monopoly.


	The Chaser

"This small rise in fares has absolutely nothing to do with Ansett's recent demise, or our newfound market dominance," a Qantas spokesman said. "It's a negligible readjustment in line with local industry standards."

The spokesman denied that domestic travellers would no longer enjoy any choice in the aviation market, pointing out the Qantas was still dedicated to offering flyers both tea AND coffee.

Meanwhile, Ansett's beleagured board of directors yesterday agreed on a secret "rescue plan", to ensure that their personal fortunes will not be affected by the collapse of the airline. The top secret One Point Plan will see all Ansett directors transfer their assets into their wives' names before administrators are called in to wind up the company.

The financial outlook for Ansett is grim. At a press conference yesterday, a company spokesman acknowledged the extent of its losses. "We're hemorrhaging about $1.8 million a day, which is easy to say, but very difficult to spell."

Mr James says Ansett needs a $5 billion injection of capital funds just to stay afloat. "And even being afloat's hardly a great position for an aircraft to be in," he noted.

Industry analysts are pessimistic about Ansett's prospects of raising the required capital. "With losses of over a million a day, you'd have to be a complete moron to invest another $5 billion in Ansett," said one aviation commentator. Sources say both Jamie Packer and Lachlan Murdoch have expressed interest in investing.

As the crisis continues, pressure is increasing on the Federal Government to find funds for a rescue package. But while the Government has offered to send in the SAS for a "token display of force", it says it is not in a position to inject the required $5 billion into the company.

Prime Minister John Howard has however suggested that Ansett CEO Gary Toomey contact the government of the Pacific sandbar Nauru to see if it can fund an emergency rescue plan.

But with the search for a white knight investor unlikely to be successful, the directors of Ansett met yesterday to formulate their response to the crisis. Under the plan, several directors plan to stage a "show of confidence" by taking Ansett flights to remote international locations while they still have their passports.

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  Issue 114 contents

Interview: Thinking Smart
With education a key priority, Labor's spokesman Michael Lee will emerge as a key player in the upcoming campaign.

Unions: In the Spotlight
The Public Education Convention placed the spotlight firmly on the performance and prospects of our federal politicians.

Campaign Diary: Election Form Guide
So they're off and racing in the 2001 stakes. Right now it's looking more like a handicap, but we're going along for the ride.

Education: Applying the Blowtorch
Veronica Apap reports on how teachers are planning to elevate education in the upcoming federal campaign.

History: Australia�s Orwell
Stephen Holt argues that the life of Jim Maloney contained echoes of the literary legend's own political journey.

International: Brazil Loses Child Labour Warrior
The global trade union movement against child labour has lost one of their brightest forces to a brutal assassination.

E-Change: 3.4 The New Governance
In the last instalment in their series on technological change, Peter Lewis and Michael Gadiel look at the challenges politics has yet to meet.

Satire: Qantas Denies New $7770 Domestic Fares 'Exploitative'
Australia's largest domestic carrier Qantas has rejected suggestions that it's new $7770 fares between Sydney and Melbourne are taking advantage of the airline's recently inherited monopoly.

Review: Dark Music for Dark Souls
The term Industrial Music represents a wide variety and coalition of musical forms, Adam Lincoln explains.

» Corporate IT Training in Labor's Sights

» Ansett Battle Moves to Top End of Town

» Ansett Families Jeer Howard The Saboteur

» Ansett Workers Hit the Hustings

» Email Bullies in Medibank Pay-Back

» Unions to Campaign Against Workplace Racism

» WorkCover's Adverts 'Devoid of Meaning'

» Principals Warn Of Critical Shortage

» Nurses Release Federal Policy Proposals

» The Aged Care Monster

» IT Workers Get Union Voice

» New Partnership for Sustainable Energy Industry

» One Hundred Strike Over Crane Accident

» CEPU Official for Telstra Board

» Qld Casual Workers Pay Increases

» The Workers United, Need a New Slogan!

» Activists Notebook

» Vale: Frank Belan

» The Soapbox

» Sport

» Trades Hall

» Tool Shed

» The President and the Terrorist

» Confessions of a Grand Final Loser

» A Plan for Australia

» Sleeping on the Job

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