Lucky Labor aren’t in charge at the Federal level, they would have done a pink bats and school halls thing again.
Opposition sceptical over Labor’s $200m Virgin lifeline
EMILY RITCHIE REPORTER 10:40PM APRIL 21, 2020
Deputy Premier Jackie Trad landed in hot water over a free stay at Virgin CEO Paul Scurrah’s $7.2m Canadian ski lodge. Picture: Annette Dew
The Queensland government has been accused of favouritism over its $200 million funding to help rescue Virgin Australia, with taxpayers warned to be “highly dubious” about the deal because of alleged conflicts of interest.
Minister for State Development Cameron Dick announced the funding on Saturday, saying it would be conditional on similar funding from the federal government, debt restructuring, shareholder support, ongoing regional flights, and that the carrier’s headquarters remain in Brisbane.
But the announcement has been met with scepticism because of alleged close, personal links between Virgin CEO Paul Scurrah and senior Palaszczuk government ministers — in particular, Deputy Premier Jackie Trad and Employment Minister Shannon Fentiman, who in August last year got into hot water over a free stay at a $7.2 million luxury Canadian ski lodge owned by Mr Scurrah and his wife Nicole.
Queensland MP Shannon Fentiman and Jackie Trad’s former chief-of-staff Matt Collins at Whistler. Picture: Instagram
“Queensland taxpayers would be highly dubious about any deal between Labor and Virgin,” Queensland LNP Deputy Leader Tim Mander told The Weekend Australian.
“No one disputes the need to protect Queensland jobs or ensure competition exists for consumers. But there are several conflicts of interest exposing the likes of Jackie Trad and Shannon Fentiman and their luxurious trip to Whistler last year when they were personal guests of the Virgin CEO. At a minimum any deal must be fully transparent and needs to protect jobs and provide decent and affordable services for Queenslanders, particularly in regional areas.”
When asked about the five-bedroom property, located in one of Whistler’s most exclusive enclaves, in an estimates hearing last year, Ms Trad said: “I am not sure about the luxury apartment reference, but anyway.”
The luxury Whistler home owned by Paul Scurrah. Picture: Supplied
Photos of the property emerged later, depicting its modern Scandinavian design complete with a wine cellar and hot tub.
“Jackie Trad and Shannon Fentiman must stand aside from having any involvement in this decision,” Mr Mander said.
“Anything less is a blatant waste of taxpayers money and a special deal for Labor mates.”
Ms Trad and Ms Fentiman stayed at the property several months before Mr Scurrah became Virgin chief executive.
Ms Trad said on Thursday she had withdrawn from any discussions about Virgin. Ms Fentiman is not involved in any decision-making around Virgin because those decisions are made by the Cabinet Budget Review Committee, of which she is not a member.
Nicole Scurrah was chief of staff to former Labor premier Anna Bligh and was last year hired by Ms Trad as a consultant to help the Palaszczuk government cut back on consultancy costs.
Ms Trad has previously failed to declare a conflict of interest — the purchase of a Woolloongabba house by her family’s trust — which led to the state’s corruption watchdog recommending changes to the law.
Ms Trad and Ms Fentiman stayed at the Whistler property with their partners. Picture: Supplied
The proposed legislation, which is yet to be debated in parliament due to the coronavirus outbreak, would see Queensland government ministers jailed if they intentionally fail to declare conflicts of interest.
Virgin Australia has asked for a $1.4 billion loan from the Commonwealth to help it through the coronavirus pandemic, but this was rejected. The federal government has offered Virgin a share of $165 million guaranteed payment for domestic flight routes and is advising shareholders may need to bail the company out.
In announcing the funding on Saturday, Minister Dick said — while he was yet to liaise with his counterparts in other states or territories — his commitment was to try to save the 5000 Virgin workers in Queensland.
He urged the federal government to ramp up its support of the struggling airline.
“If we’re going to have two national airlines at the other side of this pandemic, all governments need to come together to ensure that is the case … we need a national response,” he said.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/busine ... 96e9e75bde
And the COMMENTS say it all
Paul 1 DAY AGO
Did anyone else get the irony of the QLD Government hiring a consultant to help it save on consultancy costs?
And we're expected to have confidence in the QLD Government's decision to throw QLD taxpayers' money at rescuing an airline that hasn't made a profit in the last 7 years?
Rick 3 DAYS AGO
Triage: Trough Snout Trad
Scott 3 DAYS AGO
Can't we just save 200 million and spend it on companies that actually make a profit during normal times?
Mad Cat Lady 3 DAYS AGO
Be afraid Queenslanders, be very afraid
Max Rawnsley 4 DAYS AGO
Is the proposed lending additional borrowing to add to the existing public debt, or will it go off balance sheet. As previously occurred in Qld under the Qld Labor govt?
StPepper’s walrus ! 4 DAYS AGO
it Would appear Joh Bjelke-Petersen was an inspiration to this QLD ALP . ???
Balfour 4 DAYS AGO
Let Virgin enter voluntary administration. It will emerge with far less debt, an appropriate level of employees and able to compete going forward. Virgin can not support 10,000 employees going forward, and Qantas can not support 30,000. Air travel will take a long time to recover and it will recover slowly. As for the crony capitalism, well, voluntary administration will lead to a change in management at Virgin, as for the Queensland MPs, that can be decided at the ballot box
Martyn 4 DAYS AGO
Agree it won't be business as usual once restrictions are lifted. So many people have lost their income travelling will not be a priority. Virgin being propped up is fanciful thinking that they can retain all these employees.
Frank Ernest 4 DAYS AGO
Lucky Labor aren’t in charge at the Federal level, they would have done a pink bats and school halls thing again.
Barry 4 DAYS AGO
No donations to Virgin.
A replacement airline will soon move in.
Alex 4 DAYS AGO
Did Aylan Joyce write this column? An Australian airways oligarchy has been bad enough but a Qantas monopoly will cost Australians more than 3 billion over 3 years. High airfares kill the tourist and many more industries. Be careful what you wish for. For those of us with spare money this could be a bonus but it is not good for the country. Offer the flag carrier to one airline other than QF then watch Joyce scream, scheme and parrot "we can't survive". Time for a restructure of the airline industry in Oz.
Martyn 4 DAYS AGO
The Government can legislate to cap airfares to keep Qantas in check.