PriceWaterhouseCoopers today announced that from 5pm this afternoon, Allan Watson, Peter Hedge and Greg Hall had resigned as Administrators of the Ansett Group of companies.

Arthur Andersen has been appointed Administrator from 5pm today pursuant to an Order of the Federal Court. Michael Humphris of Simms Lockwood has been appointed Administrator of the Hazelton Airline Group.

The resignation follows discussions over the past 24 hours with unions representing employee creditors.

Allan Watson of PriceWaterhouseCoopers said that the Administrators had taken this step because support from all parties was an essential ingredient to a successful Administration and this support was lacking.

ACTU Secretary Greg Combet said that unions were appreciative of the effort and commitment that the PriceWaterhouseCoopers Administrators had placed into the Ansett Administration and agreed that PWC’s resignation was in the best interest of all parties.

“Allan Watson, Peter Hedge and Greg Hall have thrown themselves into the task in recent days and the unions and employees of Ansett recognise the professional way in which they have approached the job. The unions will cooperate with them to ensure a seamless transition in the administration of the companies,” Mr Combet said.

This is a joint Statement by ACTU and PriceWaterhouseCoopers