14 December 2006

Flying Kangaroo on the barbie

Despite them being very cute animals, I love a good Kangaroo fillet, particularly when made to Tobs' patented honey and beer recipe - AKA Bundahroo. Emotional attachment is no barrier to carnivorous consumption.

Can the same be applied to the flying Kangaroo, dismembered this evening by the hungry hoards of private capital? It's easy to get misty eyed at the sight of a Qantas plane in a far flung airport. Dropping off punters at the Joburg airport always bought on a sniffle in the knowledge that the big wheels would soon touch down in terra australis. Does that change now that Aussie Macquarie and their mates will spend 11 billion bucks to take Qantas private? Not a bit. $11billion is a lot to pay for a herd of flying roos - and you can bet that a significant portion of that is brand recognition (remember Rain man). They'll need to milk every little homesick tear from ex-pat Aussies if they're to make money. The association with Australia will remain at the core of the company (hopefully accompanied by onshore jobs). And by law it will remain technically majority Australian owned (though who invests in the investors is another matter). So pop the melbourne bitters and let the roo fry. And 'mums and dads' put your money in Macquarie if you want a piece of the juicy fillet while it's rare.

No comments: