MEETING WITH THE VICTORIAN PREMIER, MR STEVE BRACKS

Senior Singapore Airlines (SIA) management today met the Premier of Victoria, Mr Steve Bracks, in Singapore for an exchange of views on a possible reconstituted Ansett Mark II, as well as tourism in Victoria.

The meeting, which was held at the request of Mr Bracks, was informative and productive.

On the Ansett Mark II issue, SIA listened to Mr Bracks’ views about the need for a reconstituted Ansett to be developed to support business and tourism in Victoria.

SIA has held talks with the voluntary administrators of Ansett, Mr Mark Korda and Mr Mark Mentha, at their request about SIA possibly working as a consultant to provide a blueprint for the future management of Ansett Mark II. Those talks are continuing and no agreement has yet been signed.

In broader tourism issues, an in-principle agreement was reached for SIA to join Victorian tourism authorities in a joint-promotion to help develop international tourism in Victoria and Melbourne. Further talks to develop details of the agreement will be held soon.