PRESENTER:
Treasurer Joe Hockey is at Parliament House. Joe, last week you said that we all have to be prepared to pay the price to keep Qantas in Australian hands. Did you know this was coming?
TREASURER:
It was pretty clear. A number of aviation industry analysts foreshadowed that Qantas was going to be announcing significant losses. This is not something that is all new – because the previous Government had known it was coming along time ago.
PRESENTER:
So Joe, what is your preferred solution? Are you going to amend the Sale Act? Are you going to increase the debt guarantee? I mean, what is your Government’s policy when it comes to looking after the aviation sector, and Qantas, bailing out the car industry, I mean, are there are a few economic woes starting to add up?
TREASURER:
You are right. The bottom line is government should not be in the business of propping up private sector operations. The issue with Qantas is that it has restrictions on its ownership that are imposed by the Parliament. If the Parliament wants to continue with those restrictions then taxpayers have to be prepared to foot the bill. If you are going to end up putting taxpayers’ money or putting a taxpayers’ guarantee behind Qantas, then the Australian people should be part of that debate.
PRESENTER:
We have got 1000 people who are going to lose their jobs, I mean, what can the Government do about that?
TREASURER:
The Government cannot do a hell of a lot other than ensure that you have a stronger economy that ensures that all businesses have a chance to continue to grow and not only hold their employees, but employ more people.
PRESENTER:
Joe, should Alan Joyce lose his job?
TREASURER:
That is a matter for the board and the shareholders of Qantas. I have no problems with Alan Joyce at all. He is in the middle of a very difficult situation.
PRESENTER:
Joe, a change of topic, yesterday you made a deal with the Greens to scrap the debt ceiling altogether. Have a little bit of fun with me here, without using the phrase ‘Labor’ or ‘The Opposition’, have you changed your mind about the Greens’ economic credibility?
TREASURER:
No, not really.
PRESENTER:
So hang on, if they’re not economically credible, why did you do a deal with them on the economy?
TREASURER:
Everyone is entitled to a moment of common sense and maybe one day I can get you to support the Liberal Party, Charlie.
PRESENTER:
Now Joe, you said today that Labor’s response to the Greens has been a bit bizarre, but I just want to play you something, I was not sure about the analogy you used.
TREASURER:
The reaction of the Labor Party is absolutely bizarre. It is like a husband being upset that their ex-wife went off and had a cup of coffee with some other man. It is bizarre behaviour from Labor.
PRESENTER:
Now Joe, you’re a happily married man and you’re a pretty relaxed guy. But I have got to say, if my marriage ended and my wife had a coffee with another man - I would be upset.
TREASURER:
I have never been a jilted lover. I have never created any jilted lovers, so I do not know what quite it means. But they are certainly behaving like a jilted lover. Given that that we have been talking to the Greens.
PRESENTER:
Can I just say, if my wife is watching, if you leave me; I will be jilted, sweety, I will be a jilted lover. All right, Joe good to chat to you. Thanks for your time.