International Flights; Senator Calls For Townsville Airport Boss To Step Down

Corporatocracy Leadership Cohort Scrambling for Excuses

International flights out of Townsville to Bali will be discontinued by Jetstar from 22^nd March 2018 due to a lack of patronage the budget carrier said, putting Townsville’s capital of North Queensland claims in serious jeopardy and a Senator calling for the Townsville Enterprise (TEL) Chairman to stand down.

The CEO of Townsville Airport and TEL Chairman Mr. Kevin Gill campaigned aggressively in 2014-15 with local Townsville leaders to achieve federal government support for customs and border protection resources to be stationed in Townsville in order to boost the City’s international tourism numbers.

The Jetstar decision this week comes just days after Mayor Jenny Hill criticised the budget airline’s parent company Qantas for refusing to raise the price of domestic airfares by $3 per passenger as a means of funding the proposed $80 million upgrade of the airport.

Speculation that the feud created by Queensland Airports Limited and Mayor Jenny Hill demanding that Qantas increase its airfares to pay for the airport upgrade contributed to the Jetstar decision to axe the Bali flights.

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But the CEO of Jetstar’s Australian and New Zealand business Mr. Dean Salter may have unintendedly implicated Ms. Hill and Mr. Gill because he said the $3 levy would have made the route even more unviable. However, the $3 levy does not apply to international routes out of Townsville.

When Jetstar had agreed to deliver a Townsville to Bali service in 2015, the airport CEO and Chairman of TEL said: “I encourage North Queenslander’s to embrace the new service when it starts in September, proving that there is a growing appetite for direct international services from Townsville”.

Jetstar’s argument for closing the service is that insufficient support existed for the service, which could be frustrating for the TEL Chairman who anticipated the people of Townsville would prove Jetstar’s support for the city was justified. This was not to be.

Many questions must be asked now about the management of Townsville Airport and the suggestion that Townsville’s tourism marketing under the stewardship of TEL has been poorly executed in attracting international passengers from Asia through to Townsville via the Bali route.

Senator Ian McDonald called for Mr. Gill to stand down as Chairman of TEL.

This comes on the back of advice from marketing guru Don Morris in the Pure Projects report that puts Townsvilleans and the “experiences” tourism product of the City at the centre of any future successful marketing initiative.

Now it seems the lack of accountability in the Townsville cohort of leaders and the poor execution of an Asian and global marketing plan brings a sense of déjà vu just like the highly political collapse of Queensland Nickel under the weight of unviable commodity prices.

Townsville Enterprise CEO Patricia O’Callaghan said “It’s not about simply marketing, it’s much deeper than that.” she said in a comment to Townsville Bulletin reporter, Domani Cameron.

“We need to keep going and keep analysing new routes. It does definitely impact our brand and we’re going to have to work harder”, Ms O’Callaghan reported.

City’s international reputation at risk by “reckless” Mayor

Yet there was no suggestion of accountability among the Townsville leadership cohort except the local Senator Ian McDonald who called for the Townsville Airport CEO to stand down from his role as TEL Chairman or in his role with Queensland Airports Limited.

The owner of Townsville Airport, Queensland Airports Limited, has come under further scrutiny from a rambunctious Mayor Jenny Hill who has not only accused board members of a conflict of interest in not supporting Townsville’s bid to become the fly-in fly-out hub for the Adani coal mine, but directing her exuberant comments towards Qantas for not increasing prices on flights to cover airport upgrades and undermining the national icon’s brand.

Ms. Hill has become consistent in attacking commercial brands, even visiting journalists reporting candidly on the lack of appeal of the City’s tourist attractions, using bullying tactics as a weapon for negotiation that has seen the economy plummet into recession under the leadership of the veteran Labor politician.

Reaching out to another airline to fill the void of Townsville’s international descent by Jetstar fleeing the international scene could be a tall order considering the way in which the leadership treats company’s taking commercial risks in the region.

The local government authority and the leadership cohort have become used to demanding handouts and hand ups from the federal and state government, commercial enterprise and rate payers while castigating and ridiculing businesses that have already ventured their capital in the City for a little dividend over the past 5-10 years.

Despite the good news of economic stimulation projects in construction of housing, mining and energy, and the federal and state governments’ investments in social services in the City, the Townsville leadership, communication and marketing formula for success has alluded the current crop of leaders. At the glimpse of any further withdrawl of big business, the capital of North Queensland status could be stripped too if the City loses its international airport altogether.

Strategic airlines also cancelled Bali to Townsville flight in 2011 due to the lack of passenger numbers.

Again, the ripple effect of Townsville’s downgraded tourism status and lack of vision and commercial acumen within the leadership cohort of the City presents concerns for business confidence and the supply chains that service and provide opportunities to the stakeholders in the property market.

Political and climate change related risks are serious elements to the economic sustainability of the City and Northern Australia moving forward and the direct and indirect consequence on property yields and capital values.

Further reading:

Property Law – The Concept Of Property And Its Ridicules History

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Construction boosts Townsville short to medium term prospects

Development frenzy  emerging between local builder alliance and national property retailers

Guide to selling a luxury home

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Anti-Coal Activists Rebuked By Adani Boss; What About Jobless In Regional Queensland And Poverty In India?

Anti-coal activists target of Adani boss

Chairman of the Adani Group, Gautam Adani, has directed a strong and scathing attack towards anti-coal activists and Adani protagonists in Queensland and across Australia for caring less about regional Queenslanders and the devastating poverty faced by millions of Indians.

The Indian energy and logistics corporation boss directed his strong rebuke of the anti-coal activists in Australia as the final investment decision approval for the Carmichael coal mine and railway project has been given the go ahead.

“I am proud to announce the project has Final Investment Decision (FID) approval which marks the official start of one of the largest single Infrastructure – and job creating – developments in Australia’s recent history,” Mr. Adani said.

“This is an historic day for Adani, an historic day for regional Queensland, and an historic day for Indian investment in Australia.

“This is the largest single investment by an Indian corporation in Australia, and I believe others will follow with investments and trade deals.

“We have been challenged by activists in the courts, in inner city streets, and even outside banks that have not even been approached to finance the project.

“We are still facing activists. But we are committed to this project.

“We are committed to regional Queensland and we are committed to addressing energy poverty in India.”

Mr. Adani said the Carmichael projects will generate 10,000 direct and indirect jobs, with pre-construction works starting in the September Quarter 2017.

Australia Head of Country and Chief Executive, Jeyakumar Janakaraj, said the company had already invested $3.3 billion in the project including buying the bulk coal handling port at Abbot Point.

Adani signed letters of award for design, construction, operations, supply of materials and professional services.

The biggest deal is with Downer Mining for the construction and operation of the Carmichael mine.

The company has also announced in the past few weeks contracts totalling more than $150 million for railway tracks and concrete sleepers for the planned 388-kms standard gauge rail link between the mine and Abbot Point.

Importantly, these contracts had gone to regional cities to generate jobs – $74 million for railway tracks (Arrium Steel, Whyalla) and $82 million for sleepers (Austrak, Rockhampton).

Mr. Janakaraj announced a further contract for the Carmichael Rail Network linking Galilee Basin mines including our mine to the port of Abbot Point.

This contract is with AECOM, who are regionally based here in Townsville.

The AECOM deal, which covers surveying and design for the rail link, with the company basing 70 people in Townsville.

“But we are building more than a rail line,” Mr. Janakaraj said.

“We are building a line that will open the Galilee Basin, linking that massive coal reserve to markets around the world, generating power, and – importantly – generating many thousands of direct and indirect jobs in regional Queensland.

Oxfam Australia CEO Dr. Helen Szoke said; “Make no mistake, Adani’s proposed mine is a disaster for the world’s poor. More coal will drive more people into poverty through the devastating consequences of climate change and the direct toll of coal burning on local communities.”

However, the Australian charity has come under serious criticism for exaggerating the impact of climate change on global poverty numbers and misleading the Australian public on the percentage of their money being donated to starving children.

On a recent visit to Africa to visit his sponsored daughter, TREN’s editor learned directly from front-line Ugandan officials near the South-Sudan border that another Australian global charity organisation was planning on closing down its child sponsorship program due to the lack of funds from the head office in Australia.

The Charity’s Ugandan director of projects said, “The Aussies are not giving as much as they used to. The priorities of the Australian leaders are being directed into climate change. The children are still in need of food, shelter and education in the Gulu area”.

“In Adani’s case, it will link its Carmichael coal mine to our bulk loading facility at the port of Abbot Point from where it will be shipped to Adani’s power stations in India.

“While some may be looking for ways to leave regional Queensland, we are looking to the future. We are looking to ensure regional Queensland remains a great place to live, work and to raise a family.

To achieve that, Adani is delivering on its promise to address power poverty for hundreds of millions in India and unacceptably high unemployment in regional Queensland.

“To those activists who sit in creature comfort and criticise us, I ask a simple question – what are you doing for those people?”

Further reading:

Major Projects Feasibility Ranking: $22 Billion Investments in Townsville North Queensland

Construction boosts Townsville short to medium term prospects

Development frenzy  emerging between local builder alliance and national property retailers

Kirwan – Top Price Property of the Week – 1 Crown Close – $655,000

Commercial property in Townsville found gasping for owner-occupiers

Magnetic Island – Top Price Property Winner of the Week – 3-5 Endeavour Road – $520,000

Durie Is Out! Gay And Green Thumb Poster-Boy Snapped Duplicity Of Premier On Townsville Water Security

Guide to selling a luxury home

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Crime: Is The Solution In The Reason? Exclusive Report From Local Candidate

Crime – an investigative review of hand outs and lack of discipline

One has to ask why the increase in crime across the country and why the offenses that are taking place are so prolific.

Is it because some fifteen years ago, young couples were offered money to have children instead of having them for the pure satisfaction of loving and nurturing their own offspring, with little or no financial help?

Is it because of the lack of discipline? Not being allowed to smack your child and, wrapping them in cotton wool for fear of their feelings being hurt?

Is it because of the breakdown of the family unit with children feeling the guilt of a loveless marriage and separation from their parents as they are handed from parent to parent week-on and week-off?

Domestic violence leading to the child not understanding any other way of life and believing that it is ok to hit and be hit, as they know no better, may be a connection that leads to their violent future.

With many children now in child care, as mum and dad have to work to make ends meet, children often miss out on that one on one time with their parents – and the luxury of simple things – such as the smell of biscuits coming out of the oven and a chat with mum after school over issues such as bullying and poor school grades, may lead to many children believing that their parents just don’t care.

Is it because children are having children with no role models or guidance? No training to be mothers and fathers from school education, and no family support.

Worse still, the case of poor parenting being the only mentoring for some young mothers, which relies upon the rule that ‘the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree’ only leading to a bitter unbroken cycle in the future?

Lack of self-esteem and respect from growing up in a family that doesn’t care whether they exist or not contributes to a forever cycle which only escalates as their confidence in crime increases.

Is it because initially getting pregnant is glorified by movies and television programmes, and suddenly a young teenager is left holding the baby with no support network and realizing being a mum isn’t all sugar and roses.

Maybe getting pregnant for some is a way out of an education system they do not enjoy, or a way to earn money to get away from an abusive family environment, and, without a support network offspring from this lost environment may be why these children are committing crimes.

Unfortunately, revenge pregnancies are not uncommon, but no thought is given to the child who in turn grows up unloved and feeling unwanted.

A ‘me’ society where everything is ‘mine’ no matter what, has certainly sprung up with past generations of parents having the disposable income to spoil on their children. Buying is easier than giving the most precious gift of all which is free yet unavailable for many …the parent’s gifts of time.

We see our children fixated to computer screens in their bedrooms, shooting at cartoon people and objects, or animated games where de sensitivity with no parental supervision does not teach the rights and wrongs of the actions on the children’s screens, with some believing that what they play on the computer can be replicated in real life.

Movies can be very educational but also dangerous in glorifying crime, and giving young, vulnerable and naive children the opportunity to see the use of drugs and acts of sex that they should never be exposed to, especially whilst watching these programmes unsupervised. Sure we have censorship and parental lock systems but these only work when caring families use these controls.

Advertising of fast cars appears to be the norm, encouraging young to do the same behind the wheel, with such promotions of acceleration from 0 to 160 in seven seconds. It makes you question why when most of our roads in the country have a maximum speed limit of 100kms per hour.

Many criminal youngsters, through peer pressure, often only make contact with friends with similar criminal records and once those friends are locked up inside the need to commit a crime may manifest just to be with the only company they know.

Sadly in some cases committing a crime leads to being institutionalized with an assurance of a warm bed, three hot meals a day, television and a nice hot shower, something not available to them on the ‘outside’.

Brazen attacks often occur simply because they can, or are due to peer pressure to prove they are as tough as their mates and desperately want to be accepted by fellow criminals.

Drugs such as ice bring more violent attacks. The choice to indulge in this illegal activity because of lack of employment, boredom, insecurity and peer pressure, often appears, in their eyes, to help many to escape from the sad reality that life has led them to. Stealing and ‘dealing’ has it’s own supposed rewards for some in the form of immediate assets and opportunities to make money to fuel their next fix.

Addressing the issue of crime has not come without its problems but obviously, what has been tried is not working. Maybe addressing the issues one by one, taking each criminal case on an individual basis and taking the time to find out why these criminals, many of them as young as ten years old are committing such acts may be a help in finding the solution.

No one solution will fit the cap of every criminal but maybe it’s a start to breaking the cycle of terror that many have experienced during the violation of their homes, and, theft and damage of their possessions.

Last but absolutely not least is the victims.

No matter how irresponsible we as ordinary people are for leaving items around, not locking our houses, walking home in the dark, wearing a short dress or leaving keys in cars, is absolutely no excuse for anyone to help themselves in any way shape or form to anything or anyone.

Victims work hard for every single asset they gain and the anger and frustration in many can be felt loud and clear. The inconvenience of no vehicle, or repairs to it whilst chasing up insurance companies, as well as the increase in insurance premiums, having to chase up the banks to cancel credit cards and wait for new ones, repairing or replacing damaged property and worst of all having to heal both mentally and physically certainly takes its toll. A toll, our society should not have to take, ever.

Maybe somewhere there is a solution, but doing what is being done now is not working we need to find a new way, but first, let’s ask why. Maybe no one knows what the solution is but taking time to find out the reason is a good start.

Author: Margaret Bell, Candidate for the One Nation Party in the State seat of Hinchinbrook

Margaret Bell

One Nation Candidate

Hinchinbrook

Further reading:

Construction boosts Townsville short to medium term prospects

Development frenzy  emerging between local builder alliance and national property retailers

Kirwan – Top Price Property of the Week – 1 Crown Close – $655,000

Commercial property in Townsville found gasping for owner-occupiers

Magnetic Island – Top Price Property Winner of the Week – 3-5 Endeavour Road – $520,000

Durie Is Out! Gay And Green Thumb Poster-Boy Snapped Duplicity Of Premier On Townsville Water Security

Guide to selling a luxury home

Free Subscription Offer

You’re fired! The best summer. Bugger – Go Digital. Join TREN. It’s Free. Explore more..
Click on image above to Join TREN

How to stay up-to-date

Do you have an opinion about the home ownership?

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Disclaimer

How Government Have Widened The Gap Between Generations In Home Ownership

Various government policies have fuelled the demand for housing over time, expanding the wealth of older home owners and pushing it further and further beyond the reach of young would-be home buyers. A new study highlights this divide between millennials and their boomer parents.

The study is part of a Committee of Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) report called Housing Australia. It compares trends in property ownership across age groups over a period of three decades.

Between 1982 and 2013, the share of home owners among 25-34 year olds shrunk the most, by more than 20%. On the other hand, the share of home owners among those aged 65+ years has risen slightly.

The rate of renting has spiralled among young people. By 2013, renting had outstripped home ownership among 25-34 year olds.

Same policies, different impacts on generations

There is undoubtedly a growing intergenerational divide in access to the housing market. The timing of policy reforms has been a major driver of this widening housing wealth gap.

Negative gearing has long advantaged property investors, potentially crowding out aspiring first home buyers. While negative gearing was briefly quarantined in 1985, this was repealed after just two years.

Townsville Commercial Property Report – Click on image to get your FREE copy here!

The appeal of negative gearing grew as financial deregulation spread rapidly during the 70s and 80s. This deregulation widened access to mortgage finance, but also pushed real property prices to ever higher levels.

In 1999, the Ralph review paved the way for the reform of capital gains tax on investment properties. Instead of taxing real capital gains at investors’ marginal income tax rates, only 50% of capital gains were taxed from 1999 onwards, albeit at nominal values.

The move, designed to promote investment activity, actually aggravated housing market volatility. The confluence of negative gearing benefits and the capital gains tax discount encouraged investors to go into more debt to finance buying property, taxed at discounted rates. The First Home Owners Grant, introduced in 2000, was another lever that increased demand. In the face of land supply constraints, these sorts of subsidies were likely to result in rising house prices.

Other policy reforms, while not directly housing related, have also affected young people’s opportunities to accumulate wealth.

The Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) was introduced in 1989, at a time when many Gen-X’s were entering tertiary education. This ended access to the free education that their boomer parents enjoyed.

HECS parameters were tightened over time. And in 1997, HECS contribution rates rose for new students and repayment thresholds were reduced.

Of course, the 1992 introduction of the superannuation guarantee would have boosted Gen X’s retirement savings relative to boomers. However, these savings are not accessible till the compulsory preservation age, so can’t be used now to buy a house.

All these policies have clearly had varying generational impacts, adversely affecting home purchase opportunities for younger generations while delivering significant wealth expansion to older home owners.

An intergenerational housing policy lens

A new housing landscape has emerged in recent years. It is marked by precarious home ownership and long-term renting for young people.

It’s also dominated by a growing wealth chasm – not just between the young and old – but also between young people who have access to wealth transfers from affluent parents and those who do not.

The majority of housing related policies do not consider issues of equity across generations. There are currently very few examples of potential housing reforms that can benefit multiple generations.

However, there is one policy that could – the abolition of stamp duties. It would remove a significant barrier to downsizing by seniors.

The equity released from downsizing would boost retirement incomes for seniors, while freeing up more housing space for young growing families. Negative impacts on revenue flowing to government could be mitigated by a simultaneous implementation of a broad based land tax. This would in turn push down house prices.

As life expectancies increase, the need for governments to take into account policy impact on different generations is critical. On the other hand, policies that take a short-term view will only worsen intergenerational tensions and entrench property ownership as a marker of distinction between the “haves” and “have nots” in Australia.

Author: Rachel Ong Deputy Director, Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre, Curtin University

  

Further reading:

Townsville FIFO Workforce Aspirations Outlawed by Queensland government

Construction boosts Townsville short to medium term prospects

Development frenzy  emerging between local builder alliance and national property retailers

Kirwan – Top Price Property of the Week – 1 Crown Close – $655,000

Commercial property in Townsville found gasping for owner-occupiers

Magnetic Island – Top Price Property Winner of the Week – 3-5 Endeavour Road – $520,000

Durie Is Out! Gay And Green Thumb Poster-Boy Snapped Duplicity Of Premier On Townsville Water Security

Guide to selling a luxury home

Free Subscription Offer

You’re fired! The best summer. Bugger – Go Digital. Join TREN. It’s Free. Explore more..
Click on image above to Join TREN

How to stay up-to-date

Do you have an opinion about the home ownership?

The TREN community wants to hear your story.

Become a subscriber to TREN eMagazine and be the first to receive local breaking stories, analysis and opinions on the Townsville real estate market.

Disclaimer