Media Release

KAP Leader and Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter yesterday led a vocal group of QANTAS workers and supporters at a rally protesting against the 5000 QANTAS job cuts.

Over 100 people turned out in support for the job security of Australian aviation employees and for the future of our National carrier QANTAS.

“It is vitally important for Australia to protect our assets and secure jobs for our aviation workers which in turn secures safe skies.

“Qantas has an impeccable safety record and sacking valuable staff will jeopardise the impeccable safety record of QANTAS and the job security of over 5000 workers,” Mr Katter said.

Mr Katter has previously voted against the Federal Government’s laws removing foreign ownership restrictions from QANTAS.

The Federal Government’s laws, essentially allow for the structural separation of QANTAS’s domestic and international arms, repealing the 49 per cent cap on foreign investment in Qantas and removing the barrier to foreign airlines buying more than 35 per cent of the company.

“Let’s have a glance at the future – you will live in a country that will be owned by foreign landowners, a country in which a deregulated labour market will have you working for virtually nothing; and you can pick up the newspapers in Australia, day after day and they will be advocating $8 an hour, well it will be rather intriguing to see how people will be able to stay alive,” Mr Katter said addressing the crowd of workers.

“The board members (of QANTAS) will sacrifice their country for their own personal enrichment, doing the complete opposite of our forefathers.”

Mr Katter reflects on the forefathers and pioneers of QANTAS who created the airline in Winton and Cloncurry to help build the aviation industry that has assisted progression of Australia since its formation.

The rally was organised by the Transport Workers Union (TWU) who have been the collective voice for men and women working in the Australian transport industry for more than 120 years.