VIRGIN Australia can still be saved but Gold Coast Federal MPs will need to speak up, warns Labor Gold Coast-based Senator Murray Watt.
“Scott Morrison now must take an active role in the administration process, take an equity stake and ensure we have two major airlines in this country,” Senator Watt told The Bulletin.
“For the Gold Coast’s tourism industry to recover from the coronavirus lockdown, we need two domestic airlines and that means getting Virgin back in the air.”
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Virgin has entered into voluntary administration after debts of more than $5 billion. The second carrier to Qantas provides a large chunk of the 6.6 million passengers travelling through the Gold Coast Airport annually.
“I think the alternative of an airline monopoly is the best way to kill off our tourism industry,” Senator Watt said.
He was hopeful the Prime Minister and his Gold Coast MPs could “reverse course” and take an equity stake in the company, buy shares and sell them for a profit.
“To date, our Gold Coast MPs have totally failed to stand up for Virgin and our local tourism industry. It’s about time they…