‘Buy back Qantas’: Public wants Government to reclaim airline from ‘ball and chain’ foreign investors

CLOSE to half of voters want the Government to buy back a share in Qantas as Tony Abbott highlights other means of rescuing the national carrier.

Government claims foreign ownership is a “ball and chain” on Qantas.

CLOSE to half of Australian voters want the Government to buy back a share in Qantas as Prime Minister Tony Abbott highlights other means of rescuing the funds-starved national carrier.

Mr Abbott today referred to the airline’s problem as the "ball and chain" of the Qantas Sale Act which limits foreign ownership to 49 per cent and restricts its borrowing powers.

Mr Abbott also said Qantas had to "get their house in order" amid speculation of massive workforce lay-off to be announced Thursday as the carrier cuts costs.

Qantas is set to axe 5000 jobs and sell its terminal at Melbourne Airport, the Herald Sun reported today.

The airline may also slash the budget of Jetstar.

Forty-nine per cent of voters support the Government buying a share in Qantas, according to Essential Media polling released today. The Government is certain not to do this.

Just 31 per cent said the sales act should be altered to allow greater foreign ownership.

The survey released also found Australia’s sentimental attachment to Qantas could be fading.

Some 35 per cent of voters said they usually try to fly with the airline, but 44 per cent said they didn’t care who the carrier was. And 19 per cent said they try to avoid buying Qantas tickets.

Prime Minister Abbott today confirmed ministers had been discussing the airline’s future with Qantas executives since late last year.

"We accept that Qantas are facing a tough and very competitive market," Mr Abbott told reporters.

"We accept that Qantas do have to compete with a ball and chain provided by the Qantas Sale Act.

"But in the end Qantas do have to get their house in order."

Abbott: “Get your house in order.”

Labor is expected to vote against changing the sales act and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten used Question Time today to press the Government on the threat to jobs should the foreign ownership be increased.

Mr Abbott replied the best thing Labor could do for Qantas was scrap carbon pricing which cost Qantas $106 million last year.

Trade unions also are fearful of jobs disappearing overseas.

"They won’t be satisfied until they have Aeroflot with a kangaroo on the tail," said TWU chief Tony Sheldon.

Transport Minister Warren Truss declined to comment on speculation about Qantas job losses.

"But I think the market will be expecting quite substantial announcements by Qantas as a part of that announcement (on Thursday)," Mr Truss said.