Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

My government supports competition, but global aviation is not a free-for-all, which is why Qantas, when it decided to fly from Perth to London, had to get QF9 to go from Melbourne to Perth and into London. They're restricted to just two slots. That's why Qantas, or any Australian airline, can't fly into Paris whenever they like. There are restrictions on flying into Rome. There is no air services agreement with Europe. We have the most competitive aviation market in the world, bar none. I see the former minister shaking his head to agree. We have Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Etihad, Malaysia, Cathay Pacific, British, Asiana, Korean, Air China, Beijing Air, China Eastern, China Southern, Xiaman Air and more all flying under international agreements between Australia and Europe via another destination.

The truth is that, when agreements come forward, ministers can make decisions to defer. Indeed, the former minister, Mr McCormack, has made comments about the decision that he made in February 2018 to put on hold an application by Qatar Airways. That only came into practice in January 2022. They waited four years under the former government. But they did something else as well. (Time expired)

I seek leave for an extension of time.

Leave not granted.

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