Virgin bailout

Australian Federal, State and Local Politics
Forum rules
Don't poop in these threads. This isn't Europe, okay? There are rules here!
Post Reply
User avatar
Black Orchid
Posts: 25688
Joined: Sun Sep 25, 2011 1:10 am

Virgin bailout

Post by Black Orchid » Tue Apr 21, 2020 6:07 pm

Finally some strong words from Frydenberg! Well done!

"The Government was not going to bail out five large foreign shareholders with deep pockets who, together, own 90 per cent of this airline," Mr Frydenberg said.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-21/ ... /12167814

Typical Labor wanting us to bow to their Chinese brethren ...
The Morrison government is holding firm against Labor's and union demands to rescue Virgin Australia after the troubled airline
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/ ... /?cs=14231

sprintcyclist
Posts: 7007
Joined: Wed May 07, 2008 11:26 pm

Re: Virgin bailout

Post by sprintcyclist » Tue Apr 21, 2020 6:14 pm

Black Orchid wrote:
Tue Apr 21, 2020 6:07 pm
Finally some strong words from Frydenberg! Well done!

"The Government was not going to bail out five large foreign shareholders with deep pockets who, together, own 90 per cent of this airline," Mr Frydenberg said.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-21/ ... /12167814

Typical Labor wanting us to bow to their Chinese brethren ...
The Morrison government is holding firm against Labor's and union demands to rescue Virgin Australia after the troubled airline
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/ ... /?cs=14231
Good news
Right Wing is the Natural Progression.

User avatar
billy the kid
Posts: 5814
Joined: Fri Mar 29, 2019 4:54 pm

Re: Virgin bailout

Post by billy the kid » Tue Apr 21, 2020 6:21 pm

Yep, I rang Josh the other day and had a yarn to him...told him to kick their arse to the curb..... :rofl
To discover those who rule over you, first discover those who you cannot criticize...Voltaire
Its coming...the rest of the world versus islam....or is it here already...

User avatar
Black Orchid
Posts: 25688
Joined: Sun Sep 25, 2011 1:10 am

Re: Virgin bailout

Post by Black Orchid » Wed Apr 22, 2020 9:20 am

With Queensland offering $200 million to support the company, the Victorian government opened talks with Mr Fox to relocate some of the airline’s operations to his Avalon Airport outside Melbourne, according to sources familiar with the discussions.

The weekend negotiations came close to a deal before Mr Andrews and Victorian treasurer Tim Pallas decided not to go ahead, but the airline could revive the idea as it searches for government support as well as new corporate investors from a list of 10 potential bidders.

"Virgin have been talking to lots of governments, including us – there's no secret about that," a Victorian government spokesperson said.

"But any investment of significant scale from the government has to be contingent on it being a good deal for Victoria and bringing jobs to Victoria and that’s not currently the proposition."

The state options are seen as crucial to Virgin’s survival after the airline’s board admitted the need to restructure the business, naming Deloitte as administrators and launching a search for new investors.

Virgin administrator and Deloitte executive Vaughan Strawbridge said the company would not launch redundancies and would protect its 16,000 employees and contractors.

"We’re comfortable and confident that we have sufficient funding in order to continue to trade during this period to restructure the business," he said.

While Labor called on the federal government to buy a stake in Virgin or lend it money, Prime Minster Scott Morrison made it clear the company should turn to private investors as a priority.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg named former Macquarie Bank chief Nicholas Moore as an envoy to talk to the company, but the federal government played down any idea this would lead to an equity investment or debt guarantee from the commonwealth.

Mr Morrison described the move into voluntary administration as the "road out" for Virgin, while restating the government’s policy of having two airlines to ensure competition with Qantas.

"It is very important in usual times but it will be even more important as we emerge from the coronavirus economic crisis, ensuring that we have those carriers in place," Mr Morrison said.

The future of the airline will be decided in as little as two to three months. Mr Strawbridge said there had already been an "overwhelming" response from more than 10 potential buyers.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/compani ... 54lvj.html

Who are these 10 potential buyers?

I don't mind so much if we buy a stake in Virgin, a much bigger stake than the value of the money invested, but I am dead against throwing money into a foreign owned airline with billionaire shareholders and from which the Chinese will gain most of the benefit.

I'll bet anything most of these 10 are Chinese.

User avatar
billy the kid
Posts: 5814
Joined: Fri Mar 29, 2019 4:54 pm

Re: Virgin bailout

Post by billy the kid » Wed Apr 22, 2020 9:35 am

Wesfarmers
Macquarie Group
BGH Capital
Bain Capital
Oaktree
Branson
Indigo Partners
Maybe a few more....no Chinese...??
Tyrekickers…??
To discover those who rule over you, first discover those who you cannot criticize...Voltaire
Its coming...the rest of the world versus islam....or is it here already...

sprintcyclist
Posts: 7007
Joined: Wed May 07, 2008 11:26 pm

Re: Virgin bailout

Post by sprintcyclist » Wed Apr 22, 2020 10:30 am

Black Orchid wrote:
Wed Apr 22, 2020 9:20 am
With Queensland offering $200 million to support the company, the Victorian government opened talks with Mr Fox to relocate some of the airline’s operations to his Avalon Airport outside Melbourne, according to sources familiar with the discussions.

The weekend negotiations came close to a deal before Mr Andrews and Victorian treasurer Tim Pallas decided not to go ahead, but the airline could revive the idea as it searches for government support as well as new corporate investors from a list of 10 potential bidders.

"Virgin have been talking to lots of governments, including us – there's no secret about that," a Victorian government spokesperson said.

"But any investment of significant scale from the government has to be contingent on it being a good deal for Victoria and bringing jobs to Victoria and that’s not currently the proposition."

The state options are seen as crucial to Virgin’s survival after the airline’s board admitted the need to restructure the business, naming Deloitte as administrators and launching a search for new investors.

Virgin administrator and Deloitte executive Vaughan Strawbridge said the company would not launch redundancies and would protect its 16,000 employees and contractors.

"We’re comfortable and confident that we have sufficient funding in order to continue to trade during this period to restructure the business," he said.

While Labor called on the federal government to buy a stake in Virgin or lend it money, Prime Minster Scott Morrison made it clear the company should turn to private investors as a priority.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg named former Macquarie Bank chief Nicholas Moore as an envoy to talk to the company, but the federal government played down any idea this would lead to an equity investment or debt guarantee from the commonwealth.

Mr Morrison described the move into voluntary administration as the "road out" for Virgin, while restating the government’s policy of having two airlines to ensure competition with Qantas.

"It is very important in usual times but it will be even more important as we emerge from the coronavirus economic crisis, ensuring that we have those carriers in place," Mr Morrison said.

The future of the airline will be decided in as little as two to three months. Mr Strawbridge said there had already been an "overwhelming" response from more than 10 potential buyers.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/compani ... 54lvj.html

Who are these 10 potential buyers?

I don't mind so much if we buy a stake in Virgin, a much bigger stake than the value of the money invested, but I am dead against throwing money into a foreign owned airline with billionaire shareholders and from which the Chinese will gain most of the benefit.

I'll bet anything most of these 10 are Chinese.
yes
Right Wing is the Natural Progression.

User avatar
billy the kid
Posts: 5814
Joined: Fri Mar 29, 2019 4:54 pm

Re: Virgin bailout

Post by billy the kid » Wed Apr 22, 2020 4:40 pm

https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-u ... 5e13f0d6ac
More about Virgin....Im getting giddy reading the word billionaire over and over again....
Maybe the billionaires can throw me some flour to bake my sponge cakes.... :rofl
To discover those who rule over you, first discover those who you cannot criticize...Voltaire
Its coming...the rest of the world versus islam....or is it here already...

User avatar
billy the kid
Posts: 5814
Joined: Fri Mar 29, 2019 4:54 pm

Re: Virgin bailout

Post by billy the kid » Wed Apr 22, 2020 5:21 pm

South African Airlines have also gone belly up....
4700 employees to be shown the door...
Hasn't made a profit since 2011....been bailed out to the tune of $1.1 billion
in the past three years...
I read somewhere the other day that only 20-30 airlines worldwide will survive... :roll:
To discover those who rule over you, first discover those who you cannot criticize...Voltaire
Its coming...the rest of the world versus islam....or is it here already...

Juliar
Posts: 1355
Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2016 10:56 am

Re: Virgin bailout

Post by Juliar » Thu Apr 23, 2020 11:23 am

Wonder if the Chinese will buy Virgin ?

Juliar
Posts: 1355
Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2016 10:56 am

Re: Virgin bailout

Post by Juliar » Fri Apr 24, 2020 11:20 am

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

Image
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.

Image
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.”

Image
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.

Image
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.

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 91 guests