Shadow Minister for Trade and Tourism, Kevin Hogan, said it was shocking and outrageous Qatar Airways found out about the Albanese Government’s rejection through the media and that there were growing calls for the decision to be reviewed to support Australian exporters.
The Albanese Government’s decision to reject an additional 28 Qatar Airways flights a week does the opposite of what’s needed to support the nation’s trade and tourism sectors and only serves to keep fare prices high.
“We have heard today from Qatar that they were shocked and appalled about the rejection and only learned about it through the media rather than from the Albanese Government,” Mr Hogan said.
“Qatar told the Senate Select Committee that they couldn’t understand the rejection, particularly as they stepped in when Qantas vacated the space during COVID and they became Australia’s biggest international airline bringing people home.
“Qatar also pointed out they had never stopped paying customer refunds, amounting to $600 million for Australians.
“We also heard internal Qatar assessments that the additional flights would have added $3 billion to the Australian economy and an extra 900 jobs in Victoria alone.
“The Australian Airports Association has backed calls, including from Brisbane Airport yesterday, for the Albanese Government to review its decision to reject Qatar.
“The government claims it is in the national interest but why is it in the national interest when it means fewer people visiting Australia; why is it in the national interest to keep airfares high and why is it in the national interest to hurt our exporters and our economy?”
