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Other Parliamentary SpeechesThis page is dedicated to Peter's speeches during parliament that do not fall under Questions or Questions without notice. They range from debating legislation, reporting on events or issues in his seat of Southport and his Ministerial Statements.
Jetstar, Gold Coast |
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| Posted by Administrator (admin) on Aug 18 2004 |
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Mr LAWLOR (Southport-ALP) (10.13 p.m.): Today our state is served by two Virgin airlines-
Virgin Blue, which we are all familiar with, and 'virgin' on the ridiculous, otherwise known as Jetstar, a wholly owned subsidiary of Qantas. Jetstar is offering passengers a Third World standard service, and a poor Third World service at that. The Gold Coast is today one of the real victims of the arrogance of Qantas in meeting the Virgin Blue challenge. It is a real challenge, because Virgin Blue offers a real service. Qantas, in contrast, offers virtually nothing to passengers. The traditional and widely respected Qantas services have been withdrawn on most routes to the Gold Coast and replaced by Jetstar services, and gone with the withdrawal of Qantas is access to business class travel and a range of customer services that travellers have come to expect and happily pay for.
These radical changes were made without any consultation with Qantas customers and stakeholders, the travel and tourism industries and particularly the business sector of the Gold Coast. Today Qantas operates only two services a day to the Gold Coast from Sydney and none from the important Melbourne business market. The Gold Coast is not only an important tourist destination; it is an important and growing business and conference destination which has been boosted by the recent opening of the magnificent Gold Coast Convention Centre. Qantas has treated the business and convention traveller with contempt. Since the collapse of Ansett, it has had a monopoly on the business class traveller but has abandoned the business class traveller to compete with Virgin in the discount fare market and concentrate on its international routes and alliances.
Qantas is not only treating the business traveller with contempt; it is treating our senior citizens with contempt as well. More and more seniors are travelling to visit family and friends, yet I am sure that many seniors find the conditions on Jetstar threatening and entirely unsuitable.
Mr Terry Sullivan: Mr Lawlor the lack of seat allocation particularly affects seniors. It is a
disgrace!
Mr LAWLOR: It is a disgrace. I take that interjection from the member for Stafford. I think everyone in this place has got a horror story to do with Jetstar.
The Gold Coast business community has sought a meeting with Qantas to outline its concerns at the damage Jetstar is doing to our business economy. I know that Don Jones, the President of the Joint Chamber of Commerce, tried to meet with Qantas for many months. But of course it is not going to change its decision, or it says it is not so far. The Gold Coast Bulletin has conducted a robust campaign to demonstrate to Qantas management that the replacement of Qantas services with Jetstar is strongly opposed by Gold Coast business, tourism and the wider community, but this campaign has made no impact. So far the Gold Coast has lost two conventions sourced out of Melbourne because convention delegates do not want to travel Jetstar. This letter to the editor in the Sunday Mail summed it up.
Mr Neill said-
This is a totally dismal airline, foisted on previously loyal Qantas clients outside metropolitan areas. The airlines unallocated seating policy is an abomination that works only for the aggressive and the ill mannered.
Time expired.
Last changed: [PUBLISHED_DATE] at 12:00 AM
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