Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I know—agriculture! My question is to the Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator Farrell. Australian consumers are paying high prices for airfares and would benefit from increased competition. The transport minister has rejected Qatar Airways' request for an additional 21 international flights a week. Minister, given the impact additional international carrier competition can have in lowering airfares for Australian passengers, increasing tourism to Australia and delivering lower freight costs, what advice did you provide to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government regarding the Qatar Airways decision, and what discussions or meetings did you, Minister Catherine King or the Prime Minister have with our domestic airlines prior to the government making this decision?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator McKenzie for her question. I'm pleased to say that bit by bit we are turning the situation around from the situation we inherited from the former government, where the level of seats on aeroplanes coming to Australia was very low and the cost was very high. We haven't entirely resolved that issue in the time that we've been in government, but, bit by bit, we are working towards returning the situation to what it was pre the pandemic. There are some countries where we are, in fact, getting more people into Australia than—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McKenzie?

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister has yet to go anywhere near the Qatar Airways decision and, indeed, the advice he gave to the responsible minister in his capacity as trade and tourism minister.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator McKenzie. I draw the minister's attention to your question.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, President, and thanks, Senator McKenzie, for the point of order. The Australian government considers, of course, a range of factors when determining whether an expansion of bilateral air rights is in the national interest. The government at this time has decided not to approve the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority's request for additional services.

International aviation helps facilitate Australia's tourism, trade and international education sectors and supports our global, national and regional economic interests and social connectivity. We have seen continued growth in Australian domestic aviation in the last year as the sector recovers from the COVID-19—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Farrell, please resume your seat. Senator Birmingham?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam President, I have a point of order on the question of direct relevance. The minister has been broadly relevant to the question asked by Senator McKenzie, but the question went specifically to the advice, the reasons and the minister's own engagement in relation to the decision. He has not touched on any of those areas of direct relevance to the question asked by Senator McKenzie.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I draw the minister's attention to the latter part of Senator McKenzie's question.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We've seen strong recovery in international passenger traffic to and from Australia, which was at 21.351 million— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I invite you to ask your first supplementary question, Senator McKenzie.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is reported that the increased flights could have added around 7,000 seats per week to Australia, which would be great for tourism—your own portfolio, if you need a reminder. The extra freight capacity would also be great for our exporters and farmers. However, the responsible minister has failed to provide justification for the decision. Minister, what is the real reason your government has rejected the Qatar Airways request and so denied the additional capacity to our trade, tourism and hospitality sectors?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McKenzie, I know exactly what my portfolios are and I've been working in each and every one of them every single day for the last—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Farrell, please resume your seat. Senator McKenzie?

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm getting in early, Madam President—direct relevance. He blathered on on my last question and didn't go anywhere near his own engagement on this topic. I'm not going to wait another minute for him to read me his role description.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McKenzie, I ask you to withdraw that comment please.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's mean, but true.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McKenzie, it's not okay to argue with me. I'm asking you to withdraw that part of your point of order and then I'll go to the second part of your point of order.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. The minister was being relevant to a part of your question. You did refer to his portfolio. I remind the minister of the rest of your question. I remind all senators that, if you put a preamble or a personal comment in your question, the minister is entitled to make reference to it. Minister Farrell, I draw you to the latter part of Senator McKenzie's question.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Each and every day we in government work to resolve the problems that we were left by the inaction of the previous government, which you were a part of, Senator McKenzie. We don't publicly discuss the discussions we've had with other countries or organisations. We simply don't do that, and when you were in government you didn't do that either. Only a few weeks ago I was in Ho Chi Minh City with Vietjet launching the first flight— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McKenzie, a second supplementary?

An opposition senator interjecting—

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, absolutely—the nonanswers, the lack of detail, the cloak of secrecy and the cover-up for certain people continues. Minister, isn't the real reason the government refused the Qatar Airways application because of pressure from a major domestic carrier? Was Minister King again overruled by the real infrastructure and transport minister, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I raise a point of order about the question. I ought to have raised it, but with the interjections I couldn't hear the first supplementary. I think the senator is asking this minister in his primary portfolio capacity. I think asking this minister the reasons for a decision of another minister is not in order, because it is not a matter in his portfolio. My recollection is the senator did not ask the minister in his representing capacity, so I will just make that point but I don't object to the question. I ought have raised this in the first supplementary.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just for clarity, I understood Senator McKenzie was asking about Senator Farrell's tourism and trade role. If I got that wrong, I will apologise. Senator Birmingham, I will go to you.

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the point of order, indeed, I am assuming the question was asked in relation to the trade and tourism portfolio as well. President, it would be a very narrow ruling to suggest that a minister with a portfolio such as trade and tourism that clearly is directly impacted by decisions of government in relation to aviation access to Australia cannot be asked questions about those decisions of government, the impacts of those decisions or the rationale for those decisions of government, particularly when they are cabinet decisions, ultimately, for which all ministers are accountable.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would agree with your analysis, Senator Birmingham, but Senator McKenzie did ask about Minister King as well in her question and that is the point that, I believe, Senator Wong was raising. But I will seek the advice of the Clerk—yes, he is nodding his head. Sorry, we have allowed the question. I will direct the minister to Senator McKenzie's question and to answer it within his trade and tourism portfolio. Minister.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm very happy to answer the questions, as I am all questions. I'm very happy to answer all of the questions at any time which the opposition would like to ask me. But, I have to say, it is a bit rich that you in particular are raising issues of cover-ups, raising issues of government when we still have not had answers about your role in the sports rorts.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Before I come to Senator McKenzie, I remind Minister Farrell that he will need to direct his answers to me. Senator McKenzie?

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask Senator Farrell to withdraw. He is reflecting on a senator.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I don't believe there was a reflection there.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam President, can I ask you to look at the rulings of previous President Ryan on this matter.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I absolutely will, Senator McKenzie. Sorry, I may have missed that; there was quite a lot of interjections. I will invite the minister to withdraw.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Minister. I will draw your attention to Senator McKenzie's question and let's get on with that.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask that further questions be placed on notice.