Transport Minister Catherine King says a search incident involving five Australian women in Doha was a factor behind her decision to reject Qatar Airways’ request to expand flights to Australia.
In July, the Labor government rejected a proposal from Qatar Airways to add 28 more Australian routes – a bid that could have cut air fares by 40 per cent and boosted the tourism sector by $788 million.
The measure came under scrutiny after it was revealed that Qantas had lobbied the government to do so, before recording a record profit of $2.5 billion for the 2022/2023 financial year.
But this morning Ms King pointed to the body search of 13 Australian women as “context” behind her decision to block Qatar Airways.
The women were among 18 female airline passengers thoroughly examined by investigators after a newborn baby was found dead in an airport bin.
Five of the women are taking legal action over their alleged strip search at the Hamad International Airport – Qatar Airways’ home base in Doha – in October 2020.
It has been revealed that King sent a letter to the lawyers representing the five women on the day she officially rejected Qatar Airways’ request.
Federal Transport Minister Catherine King says a search incident involving five Australian women in Doha was a factor behind her decision to reject Qatar Airways
Anthony Albanese says his only conversation about a Qatar Airways proposal was not with Qantas and denies he blocked it to protect the Australian airline
“This is the only airline where something like this has happened,” she said.
“That’s the context there.”
The minister added: “There was not one single factor that influenced this decision.”
At the time, Secretary of State Marise Payne described the searches as an “extremely disturbing, abusive, worrying series of events.”
Asked if he had met Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, Albanese told parliament that he had had one “extensive conversation” about the Qatar Airways deal, but that it was not with a Qantas representative.
“I have not received any lobbying from Qantas on this issue,” the prime minister said during question time on Monday.
He said opposition questions about the scheme stemmed from “a total inability to understand the way the international aviation system works.”
“We have the most open aviation market in the world, bar none,” he said.
“Qatar Airways can add more seats in Australia today and now.”
Mr Albanese noted that when he was a minister in 2009, he doubled Qatar’s access from seven to 14 flights.
He said global aviation is not open to everyone, citing the example of Australian airlines being limited in their access to European markets.
Bridget McKenzie, leader of the National Senate, is calling for an investigation into the decision.
“It’s very easy to assume that this administration will continue to protect the most sued company in our country,” Senator McKenzie said.
“The Australian public deserves to know why you made (the decision), that it wasn’t just a fun, special relationship, that it wasn’t just a dirty deal.”
Ms King pointed to the search of comics by 13 Australian women at Qatar’s Hamad Airport in Doha (pictured) as ‘context’ behind her decision to block Qatar Airways
Opposition leader Peter Dutton said there was “darkness” surrounding the government’s rejection of Qatar Airways, describing it as a “loving deal” with Qantas.
The Greens have introduced a motion in the Senate that would force the government to release documents about the decision.
Acting Queensland Premier Steven Miles said he hoped “common sense would prevail” and Qatar Airways’ decision would be reversed.
The calls come on the heels of a horror month for Qantas, which saw a Senate mull over delays, a possible $250 million fine, and the revelation that CEO Alan Joyce had received more than $10 million in shares before his resignation.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is taking legal action after the airline allegedly advertised tickets for flights that had already been cancelled.
A Qantas spokesperson said the company would investigate the consumer watchdog’s allegations, but acknowledged that standards “dropped way below” as the airline emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The ACCC’s allegations come at a time when Qantas’ reputation has already been badly damaged on several fronts,” the spokesman said.
“We know the repair will take time and we are absolutely determined to do so.”