Majority Of Australians Don't Want Qantas Takeover To Go Ahead
| Finding No. 4124 -
January 10, 2007 |
A majority of Australians (51%) say that Qantas should not be allowed to be taken over by the ‘Airline Partners Australia’ consortium, 41% say the takeover should be allowed to go ahead while 8% can’t say, a special telephone Roy Morgan survey conducted on January 4-7 finds.
Despite respondents being told that Qantas will remain majority owned and controlled by Australians if the takeover goes ahead, 53% of women and 48% of men opposed the idea.
Fifty-seven per cent of ALP supporters oppose the takeover compared to just 35% who say the takeover should go ahead. L-NP supporters are less likely to oppose the proposed takeover with 49% saying it should not go ahead compared to 46% who say it should.
Households that have a union member living there are 14% more likely to oppose the takeover when compared to non-union households (61% cf. 47%).
Special Roy Morgan Qualitative Research finds that despite 51% of Australians opposing the proposed Qantas takeover, a significant portion of the reasons given for such opposition are based on false premises, such as Qantas being currently 100% Australian owned and that the Government currently controls the airline.
Gary Morgan says:
“The potential sale of Qantas to private equity investors has evoked a strong emotional response from the public.
“If Qantas and the Government were to better educate Australians about the regulations accompanying the takeover proposal, opposition to the ‘Airline Partners Australia’ offer would most likely diminish.
“However, from a political perspective it is crucial to recognise that public perception and concern about an issue can be more important than the facts.
“The ‘sleeper’ issue is whether the Qantas takeover re-opens debate over the sale of more Government institutions.”
Special Roy Morgan Qualitative Research looked at reasons why respondents support or oppose the proposed Qantas takeover:
A significant number of respondents were unconcerned about the proposed Qantas takeover, as long as the company remained controlled by Australians:
“It is an Australian airline and has to be controlled by Australians.”
“If the management remains Australian they will probably ensure that the quality of service is preserved and that Australians will get income for the takeover.”
“It’s business. It will still remain majority Australian owned. If I was a shareholder it would be great!”
“As long as the majority stays in Australia, I don’t see what damage the takeover will do.”
Another common theme among respondents who support the takeover is that Australia is a democratic country in which free markets are the basis of our economy:
“At the end of the day everything is about business and making money. As long as everything is done by the book, shareholders are consulted and remains majority owned by Australians, I don’t have a problem.”
“The Qantas CEO is ruthless with his treatment of staff now so a takeover couldn’t be any worse.”
“I believe in free markets and businesses should be able to do business uninhibited.”
“Because free enterprise is based on competition and if a business is doing well and they’ve got the money they should be allowed to takeover or buy what they want. Big companies shouldn’t be controlled by unions.”
“It’s a business decision — it has nothing to do with country of origin. If the takeover is going to make Qantas more profitable for shareholders, I don’t see a reason why they shouldn’t (be allowed).”
General comments supporting the ‘Airline Partners Australia’ takeover bid included:
“I have confidence in Margaret Jackson and her board making the right decisions.”
“The takeover will make Qantas more competitive.”
“The takeover could improve the service of Qantas.”
“Qantas should compete in the ‘real market’ instead of always being protected by the Government.”
There was much scepticism among those who oppose the takeover, the reasons primarily being that a takeover will make Qantas ‘less Australian’ and that jobs will go overseas:
“There are too many Australian businesses being sold off overseas.”
“Too many things have gone out of Australia and I would hate to see one more company go offshore.”
“All the takeover will lead to is wages being cut and jobs going overseas.”
“I am concerned that Qantas’ safety record will be compromised by economic greed.”
“If it goes ahead it’s the first step to releasing it from Australian ownership.”
“A takeover will inevitably lead to a break up of the company or some other negative impact.”
A significant number of respondents who opposed the takeover based their decision on false premises, such as Qantas being currently 100% Australian owned and that the Government currently controls the airline:
“Qantas should remain Government controlled — once it becomes private, overseas companies will gain control and it will no longer receive Government funding.”
“I just want Qantas to remain wholly Australian owned.”
“Qantas has such a good name because it’s fully Australian and I would like it to remain this way.”
“It is wholly owned by Australians and I hope the shareholders will stop the proposed takeover because Australia has been selling off too many assets recently.”
Safety issues were raised by a number of respondents as reason for their opposition to the takeover:
“I am concerned Qantas’ safety record will be compromised for economic reasons.”
“One of the reasons why Qantas has a good safety record is because it’s Australian owned and run — this will change if the ownership is restructured.”
“I’m not sure that if Qantas was owned by someone lese that its high safety standards would be maintained because history shows that in other countries safety standards aren’t as high.”
“I’m concerned about safety, cost-cutting and losing an Australian icon.”
Should Qantas be taken over?
Respondents were told: “Australia's largest airline, Qantas, has received an $11 billion takeover bid from a group of investors known as ‘Airline Partners Australia’. This group comprises both Australian and overseas private-equity firms. The takeover, if it goes ahead, will result in Qantas remaining majority owned and controlled by Australians. The Qantas board and senior management have recommended the takeover and shareholders will vote on the issue in late January or early February.”
Respondents were then asked: "In your opinion should Airline Partners Australia be allowed to takeover Qantas, or not?"
|
|
All Australians 14+ |
Analysis by Sex and Age |
|
|
Jan 4-7, 2006 |
Men |
Women |
14-17# |
18-24 |
25-34 |
35-49 |
50-64 |
65+ |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
No, should not be allowed |
51 |
48 |
53 |
40 |
34 |
42 |
52 |
66 |
52 |
|
Yes, should be allowed |
41 |
45 |
38 |
41 |
58 |
50 |
40 |
30 |
40 |
|
Can’t say |
8 |
7 |
9 |
19 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
4 |
8 |
|
Total |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
# Sample sizes less than 50 should be treated with caution
|
|
All Australians 14+ |
Analysis by Federal Voting Intention |
|
|
Jan 4-7, 2006 |
L-NP |
ALP |
Greens# |
Ind/Other |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
No, should not be allowed |
51 |
49 |
57 |
58 |
52 |
|
Yes, should be allowed |
41 |
46 |
35 |
38 |
44 |
|
Can’t say |
8 |
5 |
8 |
4 |
4 |
|
Total |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
# Sample sizes less than 50 should be treated with caution
|
|
All Australians 14+ |
Analysis by Union Membership |
|
|
Jan 4-7, 2006 |
Member(s) of a union in household |
No members of a union in household |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
No, should not be allowed |
51 |
61 |
47 |
|
Yes, should be allowed |
41 |
34 |
44 |
|
Can’t say |
8 |
5 |
9 |
|
Total |
100 |
100 |
100 |
# Sample sizes less than 50 should be treated with caution
This special telephone Roy Morgan survey was conducted between January 4-7, 2007, with an Australia-wide cross-section of 644 men and women aged 14 and over.
Margin of Error
The margin of error to be allowed for in any estimate depends mainly on the number of interviews on which it is based. The following table gives indications of the likely range within which estimates would be 95% likely to fall, expressed as the number of percentage points above or below the actual estimate. The figures are approximate and for general guidance only, and assume a simple random sample. Allowance for design effects (such as stratification and weighting) should be made as appropriate.
|
Sample Size |
Percentage Estimate |
| |
40%-60% |
25% or 75% |
10% or 90% |
5% or 95% |
|
500 |
±4.5 |
±3.9 |
±2.7 |
±1.9 |
|
1,000 |
±3.2 |
±2.7 |
±1.9 |
±1.4 |
For further information:
Gary Morgan: Office +61 3 9224 5213 Mobile +61 411 129 094 Home +61 3 9419 3242
Michele Levine: Office +61 3 9224 5215 Mobile +61 411 129 093 Home +61 3 9817 3066
The Morgan Poll is conducted by the ONLY Australian and New Zealand member of the Gallup International Association.
No Other public opinion poll taken in Australia has this qualification.
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