Months In The Planning

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Oct 292011
 

As the Qantas debacle was unfolding, someone on Twitter mentioned a website called Keep Qantas Flying.

Being naturally inquisitive, I checked out the registration details of the site. This is what I found out:

Domain Name:                     keepqantasflying.com.au
Last Modified:                   23-Aug-2011 03:23:58 UTC
Registrar ID:                    Melbourne IT
Registrar Name:                  Melbourne IT
Status:                          ok

Registrant:                      LAWRENCE CREATIVE STRATEGY PTY LTD
Registrant ID:                   ABN 24106211474
Eligibility Type:                Company

Registrant Contact ID:           57025O1386117
Registrant Contact Name:         LAWRENCE CREATIVE STRATEGY PTY LTD
Registrant Contact Email:        Visit whois.ausregistry.com.au for Web based WhoIs

Tech Contact ID:                 57026T1386117
Tech Contact Name:               Andrew Braithwaite
Tech Contact Email:              Visit whois.ausregistry.com.au for Web based WhoIs

Name Server:                     b.ns.zerigo.net
Name Server:                     c.ns.zerigo.net
Name Server:                     a.ns.zerigo.net

[Whois Source: whois.ausregistry.net.au]

 

Hmmm.

Registered on 23/8/11. The people behind it are either clairvoyant, or…….?

And just who the hell is “Lawrence Creative”, the domain name “owners”? Anyone know how to do an ASIC search?

Another point, as many have pointed out on Twitter and Poll Bludger, is that the Qantas board would never have pulled a stunt of this magnitude without getting some SERIOUS legal advice. I find it impossible to believe that all this advice was sought and given over the last 24 hours.

My own belief, based on the above and other pieces of circumstantial evidence, is that this has been planned for months.

This combined with one of the union leaders stated just that on ABC24 (sorry no link at the moment).

Another thought I had about this, is on Monday morning, when trading commences, the Qantas share price is going to go into freefall (sorry, not a good phrase to use in regards to an airline, but WTF).

Will Qantas shareholders take out class action law suit against the board of directors?

Another matter, if this actually has been planned for a while, why wasn’t it mentioned at the Qantas AGM recently? You know, the meeting that awarded Joyce his $2million pay rise. Can ASIC do something about this?

Lots of questions, but as yet, no concrete answers.

Watch this space, as the “Fat lady” is a long way from singing on this issue.

As always on A Frank View, comments are welcome from others, especially from anyone  with further information to add to the picture.

UPDATE:

One of my Tweeps (@victoriavoce) has done an ASIC search, and unearthed the following about Lawrence Creative.

The company was previously called:

07 Pty Ltd, and STW Communications Pty Ltd.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t STW one of Channel Nine’s station names?

Then there’s the “07″. Channel Seven connection?

The plot thickens.

http://bit.ly/udHsDr

UPDATE II

It turns out that Lawrence Creative are a PR/marketing firm that previously did campaigns for the Anti-mining tax brigade as well as the campaign for “Kevin ’07″. Now that is interesting. source: Lawrence Creative

UPDATE III

From Twitter:

MightyChewbacca
Do a whois domain search for RedQ.com. You’ll find Joyce’s Singapore based airline has already been registered. Goodbye #Qantas #auspol

Domain details are as follows:

Domain Name: REDQ.COM
Registrar: GODADDY.COM, INC.
Whois Server: whois.godaddy.com
Referral URL: http://registrar.godaddy.com
Name Server: NS57.DOMAINCONTROL.COM
Name Server: NS58.DOMAINCONTROL.COM
Status: clientDeleteProhibited
Status: clientRenewProhibited
Status: clientTransferProhibited
Status: clientUpdateProhibited
Updated Date: 02-aug-2011
Creation Date: 22-jun-2004
Expiration Date: 22-jun-2013

>>> Last update of whois database: Sat, 29 Oct 2011 13:54:16 UTC <<<

[Whois Source: whois.crsnic.net]

UPDATE IV

loobes
RT #qantas staff at head office confirm 5000 redundancy/termination letters printed yesterday….

  21 Responses to “Months In The Planning”

  1. Frank Calabrese says:
    October 29, 2011 at 8:52 pm

    Via Twitter:

    mick_powerMick Power

    by jlf6007

    #QANTAS has $3b in the bank, doubled net profit this year, votes its CEO a 71% pay rise Friday, locks out its workforce Saturday.

    1 hour agoFavoriteUndo RetweetReply

    Betfair_AusBetfair Australia

  2. victoria says:
    October 29, 2011 at 8:56 pm

    DG

    Is this part of the plan to shift Qantas operations to Asia?

  3. Frank Calabrese says:
    October 29, 2011 at 8:57 pm

    Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t STW one of Channel Nine’s station names?

    Yep, STW is the callsign of Ch 9 Perth which is owned by WIN Television – though I believe it is not related to STW Communications.

    http://www.stwgroup.com.au/

     

  4. Dan Gulberry says:
    October 29, 2011 at 9:39 pm

    Vic

    The Twittersphere is going wild with exactly that idea.

  5. myk42 says:
    October 30, 2011 at 7:26 am

    morning all

    tran_andyAndy Tran
     by katedoak

    News: #Jetstar massively jacks up airfares in the wake of the #Qantas grounding. One-way flights from Melbourne to Sydney now $329!

  6. myk42 says:
    October 30, 2011 at 12:28 pm

    LOL – Gus

    Is joyce what happens, when leprechauns go bad?

    Is this the last day for the media inquiry submissions?

    A Royal Commission says Sen X, why doesn’t the Queen give Ryanairs Alan Joyce a call.  He does have form as do many involved.

    Melissa Clarke and Lyndal back on ABC95 (AEDT) – yesterdays coverage without them far better.

  7. Frank Calabrese says:
    October 30, 2011 at 1:08 pm

    Interesting from Perth Now:

    http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/top-stories/how-the-drama-unfolded-when-alan-joyce-announced-the-grounding-of-qantas/story-e6frg12l-1226180659591

  8. myk42 says:
    October 30, 2011 at 2:22 pm

    Storm clouds are once again gathering in Canberra… “It was a dark and stormy night….”

    Melissa looked hungover, I reckon or Just karma?

  9. myk42 says:
    October 30, 2011 at 2:55 pm

    Meanwhile….

    Live from our ace reporter….

    smurray38Stephen Murray
    Free? No wonder RT @FinancialReview: Fare rush: Virgin Oz says it’s
    picked up 20,000 stranded #Qantas customers with special offer [free] ..

    52 seconds agoFavoriteRetweetReply
    [5:41:45 PM] Frank Calabrese: He was in Perth for CHOGM

    Latika Bourke
     @latikambourke
     #Qantas’ Sue Bussell ‘purpose of the lockout was to change the balance of the negotiations.’ For an outcome? Yes, says Bussell.

    latikambourkeLatika Bourke
    by robcorr

    Bussell ‘we’re keen to reach an agreement.’ TWU’s Counsel asks could negotiation could lead to an agreement? Through changed balance – yes.

    leigh_howard

     @leigh_howard
     Bussell: a three month suspension will just put the parties back in the same place in three months time #Qantas #ausunions

    http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/breaking-news/jetstar-rejects-pilots-email-claim-in-qantas-union-dispute/story-e6frg133-1226180800165

  10. myk42 says:
    October 30, 2011 at 2:58 pm

    and there is more

    [5:56:55 PM] Frank Calabrese:

    @DEEWRspokesmanDEEWRspokesman

    #Qantas Transcript from Workplace Relations Minister Chris Evans on Meet the Press on Qantas dispute & Fair Work Aust http://bit.ly/t3TLj0

    20 minutes agovia webFavoriteRetweetReply
    Frank Calabrese

  11. myk42 says:
    October 30, 2011 at 3:10 pm

    Latika Bourke
     @latikambourke
     #Qantas’ Sue Bussell says companies position that the dispute had to be brought to an end. Says arbitration not only means – can negotiate.
     7 minutes ago

    see

  12. myk42 says:
    October 30, 2011 at 3:18 pm

    Phoney seems to know all about this issue some how? Aware much you arseclown?

  13. myk42 says:
    October 30, 2011 at 4:15 pm

    ruawake
    PILOTS believe a date on a Jetstar email shows Qantas was planning to freeze operations for some time – but Jetstar says that’s “nonsense”.

    Jetstar says an email yesterday that told staff the airline’s parent company Qantas was grounding its fleet was dated last Wednesday only because a mistake was made copying a standard Jetstar header from an earlier staff email.
    & The date was not updated, Jetstar said.

    and from the ether

    watermelon_manDavid Horton
    Peter Reith, impartial and expert commentator on industrial matters, thanks to our ABC. Thanks #abcmarkscott.

    MT @Davis_GM: Peter Reith had been advising Joyce according to a national party backbencher #Qantas gets messier by the hour #workjoyces

    I hope that Toolman isn’t on – some creative editing perhaps, or just his and Lyndals views?

  14. myk42 says:
    October 30, 2011 at 5:03 pm

    7.5 report special edition tonight 7:30 (AEDT)

    Yuck, Toolman at the rear end – still sticking to the agenda – I told him to his face that he was a ‘joke’ and there we have it – all on film to.

    I did like the new style of 7.5 though…still with the joke at the end ;)

  15. myk42 says:
    October 30, 2011 at 5:26 pm

    The insurance industry gets involved…

    I’ll chip in 50c to buy the qantas corporation – anyone else got the other $3.14

    Who is selling tickets for Wednesday?

    #FECKJOYCE

    :)

    QANTAS can be up and flying very quickly – its the workers who do the real work…. CEO ‘Ryanair’ JOYCE

    Patricia Cross, Remuneration director is also fmr Murdoch CI director.

    aarrr Mordor

    and #FECKJOYCE is on channel Kerry – he must have cancelled his ABC interview – how rude….(people skills) – where is the former PR person?

    I’m sure they will ask the tuff questions

    QantasAirways Qantas Airways
    Qantas fleet remains grounded until at least midday tomorrow. A decision on afternoon flights will be made tomorrow morning.

    If it transpires that Reith has been advising Joyce then….

  16. myk42 says:
    October 30, 2011 at 5:43 pm

    I know someone whom just got back from Bangkok on Friday – very lucky indeed.

  17. myk42 says:
    October 30, 2011 at 5:45 pm

    Sad loss in Afgan stan… still the grubby medja still try it on – or ask stuff about IR during CHOGM… nah wasn’t deliberate – maybe dilbert :)

    GrogsGamutGreg Jericho
    by thomasking
    Oh f*ck me. It’s a flirt piece #60Minutes

    lol

    the ABC95 ticker distraction is just flying past certain stories…

  18. myk42 says:
    October 30, 2011 at 6:30 pm

    KeeptheBshonestKeeptheBshonest

    Rumour that Emirates have applied to run A380 service x 6 services between Sydney and Melbourne on Tuesday for Melbourne cup #Qantas

    15 seconds ago

  19. myk42 says:
    October 30, 2011 at 6:42 pm

    perhaps the ‘Stuntman’ could strap a 2GB microphone to his byecycle handle bars – those in the medja seem to have no manners and no respect…pigs

    news from the ‘ace’

    chriskkennyChris Kenny
    #pmlive Good work by Carson calling out the distraction of Joyce’s pay. #Qantas

    didn’t that arseclown say that Cream was taking over 6 months ago…. shame KENNY shame.

    Apparently there is a rally tomorrow (Mon) in support of Qantas workers. 12:30pm outside Syd Int Terminal, ground (arrivals) level. #FECKJOYCE

    Heaps of tweets…

    A question for you Abbot in Perth for CHOGM but flew back JUST before Qantas gr’ded all flights Did P Reith give him the heads up? #qantas
    10 minutes ago

    Virgin Australia
    VirginAustralia Virgin Australia
    There are now another 3,000 extra seats avail to purchase btwn SYD,MEL,BNE,CBR,PER,ADL,MKY – visit the website -> bit.ly/uBpwmA

    and more…

    Qantas counsel complaining that ongoing “uncertainty” will hurt their business should remember: YOU LOCKED YOUR WORKERS OUT.

    ABC95 – update – still going – closing address – heard gov lawyers (1st) …FWA

  20. myk42 says:
    October 30, 2011 at 7:13 pm

    Again apparently (#FECKJOYCE)

    Qantas ups the ante again,
    says “real and serious possibility” fleet will remain grounded if FWA
    grants suspension. terminate or nothing

    “Please Bargain Fairly In The Interests Of Australian Families” – Tony Sheldon in an open letter to Alan Joyce

    #FECKJOYCE

    #FECKJOYCE

    lizsinnott liz
    I’VE WORKED IT OUT PEEPS!!! Alan Joyce is the love child of Alan Jones & Barnaby Joyce! now it all makes perfect sense! LMAO

    Frank Calabrese: http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/flight-chaos-to-hit-travellers-telethon-stars/story-e6frg12c-1226165265307
    Frank Calabrese: might answer why Ch 7 bagged the unions tonight

    That might explain why Riley gave Phoney that 80sec stare – bit of shetup…

    The plastic man himself…

    BotoxMan, TanMan, ChinMan (or is that the SHADOW Minister for Tennis); ToolMan and StuntMan (Has he seen Pell lately?)

    Superheros don’t use drugs! … Except maybe DrugMan (Futurama quote) :)

  21. myk42 says:
    October 30, 2011 at 7:51 pm

    Why are people showing Bali boy – he is not an adult – why are they justified in showing it?

    So many tweets – GOLD, Champagne even ;)