reprinted from:
Workers protest over airline tax
Copyright 2001
Nationwide News Pty Limited
Article date: November 5, 2001
Ansett
workers picketed Melbourne airport yesterday, accusing the Federal
Government of stifling the airline of funds while keeping millions of
dollars in ticket tax collected to pay sacked workers' entitlements.
About 50 protesters from the National Union of Workers marched through the
Ansett and Qantas terminals calling on the Government to clarify its
position on the money collected from the $10 ticket levy introduced last
month. ACTU president Sharan Burrow accused
the Government of being fraudulent by reneging on its commitment to use the
ticket tax to pay the workers' entitlements.
"I am shocked that John Howard thinks that he can get away with this
duplicity," Ms Burrow told the rally.
"You've got legislation that guarantees $10 from every ticket purchased by
the Australian travelling public should go to Ansett's workers' entitlements
fund.
"And now John Howard said he will choose how to spend it.
"I don't think Australians will understand that, it's the height of
dishonesty."
The rally came after the Federal Government's lawyers told the Federal Court
in Melbourne on Friday that money collected from the ticket tax may never be
passed on to Ansett workers.
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