Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. The minister has said she consulted with ministerial colleagues prior to her decision to reject the application for more flights by Qatar Airways. Last week the Minister for Trade and Tourism said the minister did not consult with him. The Deputy Prime Minister has said the minister did not consult with him. Which colleagues did the minister consult with?

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I give the call to the Minister for—

Order! The Treasurer will cease interjecting—

and so will the member for Hume, or both will be warned. I give the call to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government.

Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks very much to the member for Hume for the question. As I said in parliament last week, I consulted with relevant colleagues, as is the normal and proper process.

But can I make it very clear, yet again, that the decision was mine. I am the transport minister. And—in exactly the same way that the previous transport minister had before him decisions about whether to increase Qatar Airlines' access under their bilateral agreements—it is the decision of the transport minister. These are very normal decisions that come before transport ministers. As I have said, again, I consulted with relevant colleagues, but the decision was mine.