PM uncertainty 'frustrating': Qantas CEO

Leadership turmoil in the Federal Government is bad for business, Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce says.

Qantas Group Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce.

Qantas boss Alan Joyce says the leadership uncertainty in the federal government is "disappointing." (AAP)

Qantas boss Alan Joyce says the leadership uncertainty in the federal government is "disappointing and frustrating" and must be resolved before it damages business confidence and the economy.

The leadership turmoil ramped up on Thursday when Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's key ally, finance minister Mathias Cormann, withdrew his support for the PM.

The government subsequently adjourned the House of Representatives early and it will now not sit until September 10.

Delivering Qantas's full-year results on Thursday, Mr Joyce said what was happening "is not helpful".

"First of all I think for everybody in the country, what's happening in Canberra is disappointing and frustrating," he said at a results briefing in Sydney.

"Business likes certainty, it likes confidence in what's going to happen in the future and I think anything that generates uncertainty, which is what we're seeing in Canberra, is not helpful."

Mr Joyce said Australia's economy is in a strong position, but businesses aren't likely to invest while there is uncertainty over policy, such as the final round of company tax cuts, which were dumped on Wednesday by the PM.

"We hope that at some stage that can be reversed and people can see the benefits of having a competitive tax system," he said.


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Published 23 August 2018 1:36pm
Source: AAP


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