Claire Chandler (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Senator Watt. The Senate select committee inquiry into bilateral air service agreements heard that the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts provided a brief to the Minister for Transport on 9 January seeking approval for a negotiating mandate for additional Qatar Airways flights. Later in January, the Virgin CEO met with the minister, who said that she expected to approve negotiations within the next couple of weeks but was also speaking to then Qantas CEO Alan Joyce who was 'not happy'. Then there were six months with no feedback to the department until the minister decided to ignore departmental advice and reject the Qatar application in July. Minister, what role did pressure from Mr Alan Joyce play in the ministerial rejection of her department's advice?