qantas, page-92

This thread is really a precis of the basic issue underlying govt vs private enterprise. a microcosm of the problem of capitalism and globalisation.

Qantas makes a huge profit or it has till now. Where does this profit go? Mostly to the shareholders as dividends and exhorbitant salaries to execs. Where does most of the profit need to go? Underwriting new aircraft and infrastructure and paying existing workers a decent wage.

If you accept that airtravel is an essential service then my argument is that all such services should not be in private enterprise. They should all be government owned. Profit streams are ploughed back into the business, employment stays onshore and everything is properly regulated.

The old argument that just because an enterprise is government owned means that it will be inefficient is ludicrous. With appropriate incentive structures in place such enterprises can really work well. I recall, for example, the old OTC which ran overseas telecommunications in this country for many years.

I challenge anyone to demonstrate how the selling of the Commonwealth Bank, Qantas and Telecom has helped the Australian consumer.