KEY POINTS:
Almost 80 per cent of voters in marginal seats held by the federal government oppose the sale of Qantas, an ACTU poll has found.
The poll of 400 people in eight marginal seats held by the coalition, conducted by Melbourne social market research company Auspoll, found 79 per cent of those questioned were opposed to the sale.
The airline is subject to an A$11 ($13) billion takeover by local and international private equity interests led by Macquarie Bank.
ACTU secretary Greg Combet said Australians were concerned about the effect of the sale on Australian jobs, safety standards and services to regional areas.
"They want the government to stand up for Australian jobs, and apply conditions to any sale of Qantas," Mr Combet said in a statement.
"The Australian public is sick and tired of the Howard government sitting back and making excuses while more and more Australian jobs and businesses go overseas.
"The federal government can and must impose strict and enforceable conditions on the takeover or stop the proposed sale of Qantas."
- AAP
