Coronavirus crisis: Qantas chairman Richard Goyder crosses fingers for Christmas travel

Qantas chairman Richard Goyder hopes the national carrier will be flying at about 60 per cent of its usual domestic capacity by Christmas as States progressively peel back their COVID-19 travel restrictions in coming weeks. He tipped joyous scenes at Perth Airport on Saturday as hundreds of families are reunited for the first time since WA’s hard border slammed into place in early April. Also chair of Woodside, the AFL Commission and Telethon, Mr Goyder said he was “the most optimistic I have been in some time” after promising recent news about the imminent rollout of a coronavirus vaccine and Joe Biden’s victory in the US election. He said Mr Biden’s win presented an opportunity to reset diplomatic relations with China, with tensions between Australia and its biggest trading partner looming as a major barrier to economic recovery. Energy giant Woodside is due to make a final investment decision on its Scarborough gas development in the second half of next year, a project Mr Goyder said had the potential to pump billions of dollars into the WA economy. “On the basis of energy prices normalising a bit more we think it’s a world-class project but I’m not going to pre-empt the board discussions because it would be a big decision at the time,” Mr Goyder said. “But we’re very happy we’ve got Scarborough in our portfolio of opportunities.” It was reported today that Chinese businesses have been instructed by Beijing not to invest in the Scarborough project, a development Mr Goyder conceded he was “very worried” about. “But let me hasten to add it’s not an easy one to fix,” he said. “Woodside has got significant customers (in China) and we were hoping potential investors. “It is more challenging than it has ever been. It’s a big issue for this country, including an issue for the iron ore producers, and it goes absolutely to the economic health of Western Australia and Australia. “But as I say, there are complex issues that need to be managed.” Mr Goyder also warned the McGowan Government’s refusal to sign up to Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s coronavirus hotspot model risked delaying the establishment of international travel bubbles with other low-risk countries. He revealed Qantas was “burning $50 million a week” at the height of the pandemic, with all international routes grounded and domestic capacity – propped up by FIFO flights in WA and Queensland – “in the teens”. Mr Goyder said the McGowan Government’s move to a “controlled border” from Saturday – which will allow quarantine free travellers from all States besides Victoria – was a “very important step”. “I think we’ll see some amazing scenes on Saturday as families are reunited,” he said. “But the big ones for us are the Queensland border from NSW, and then NSW and Victoria into WA. “Our daughter Sophie is in Melbourne and she got engaged this year and we haven’t seen her since February, so we’re really crossing our fingers we can catch up with (her) before the year is out as well.” One of Australia’s most influential business identities, Mr Goyder has long pushed for the McGowan Government to take a less risk-averse approach to its border policy. “I think the (WA) Government made such a big deal about closing the borders and protecting the health and well-being of West Australians - and I think they’ve been genuine about that - that there are still probably a whole lot of people that are saying keep it up forever, which of course I’m totally opposed to,” Mr Goyder said. “So I think (the controlled border) is a measured step and hopefully if the situation in Victoria and NSW goes as it’s currently going it’s not too long before we are more broadly open.” While speaking about rising levels of confidence among the private sector — which were further buoyed by Pfizer’s announcement this week its COVID-19 vaccine could be distributed from as soon as December — Mr Goyder warned massive government stimulus such as JobKeeper and JobSeeker had masked the true impact on the Australian economy. “There have been unintended consequences,” he said. “Country farmers and country businesses are finding it incredibly difficult to get people to move into the bush because at the moment they’ve got, as someone said to me, this iron helmet that at some point will come crashing down.”