Ben Sandilands – Plane Talking on Crikey.
Always worth a read, the comments section fascinating. No one seems to care if the new aerodrome is built to ‘modern’ standards anticipating new innovations or even Cat III; just who gets the dollars – don’t worry about the sense. Top charges for third world services – guaranteed. Ripper tune, Alice.
Quote:One of the disturbing things about Sydney’s much needed second airport at Badgerys Creek is the unwillingness of the major parties to do anything to break the monopoly pricing situation that would arise if it becomes owned by the same interests as the existing airport.
Last week in the Senate Nick Xenophon, the independent Senator for South Australia, refused to be a part of that in no uncertain terms.
He not only spoke about the damage that would be done to the Sydney economy by having both of its major airports controlled by the same interests, but, under privilege, drew attention to claims that the owners of Sydney Airport have paid no tax on an enterprise which has not only abused its pricing power but delivered over $1 billion in ‘fees’ to advisers and financiers.
Given the benefits of privilege being applied to matters the opposition seems incapable of dealing with, and that the coalition government prefers not to address while trying to screw ordinary working people (or voters) . there is below in italics an extract from the Hansard of Senator Xeonphon’s ignored speech on the second reading of a bill to facilitate the new airport.
Always worth a read, the comments section fascinating. No one seems to care if the new aerodrome is built to ‘modern’ standards anticipating new innovations or even Cat III; just who gets the dollars – don’t worry about the sense. Top charges for third world services – guaranteed. Ripper tune, Alice.
Quote:michael r james
Posted June 29, 2015 at 7:34 pm | PERMALINK
#6
Norman, Ben has redacted names from my posts on several occasions. Crikey are very sensitive to it because a defamation case essentially bankrupted the founder of Crikey, Stephen Mayne (who I think actually lost his home). Because Crikey is too small to fend off expensive lawyers from the big gorillas in this world.
In fact the culprits are named in Ben’s article above, in the citation of Xenophon (though note, that was made under protection of Hansard). The insider nature of this story is so outrageous and overt I think it reflects poorly on Australia that no one didn’t take it to the courts. We need a Ralph Nader type of organisation. I suppose NSW ICAC could do it?