[thorn bird]

Gobbles old mate,
so glad to see you still in the fight, may not agree with you all of the time,
but no one can doubt your passion for our industry.

The so called privatisation of Australia's airports was a gigantic "Con" perpetrated
on the people of Australia. A classic example of why the Murky Mandarins can never
be trusted.

Our poor industry has suffered the stifling affect of the bureaucrats since the end of the second world war.
The war was over and the Guv'mint found itself with a plethora of military "Types" on their hands.
What to do with them?
The competent ones were not a problem, they were absorbed easily into industry, the dregs were left, nobody wanted them so they were absorbed into the regulator of a new growing industry "Civil" aviation. They brought their inflated ego's and military attitudes with a complete lack of understanding of how "commercial" enterprises worked. They stifled innovation and competition and brought us the two airline duopoly license to print money.
They were the self appointed "experts" and you do what they say, or else!
This is why our industry has never progressed and prospered as it has in other countries, it has always worked or tried to, with both hands tied behind it's back.

The so called privatisation of our airports was a convenient way for the Guv'mint to borrow money off the books, then get the Industry and ultimately the Australian taxpayer to pay the interest bill. Remember prior to privatisation the Australian public owned the airports, DEBT FREE. Privatisation created a debt, because those that bought them borrowed money for the purchase, which they have to service, which creates a neat tax deduction. Thats why those that own our airports pay little or no tax. "What a nice little earner".