Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Trade and Tourism. Will airfares to and from Australia be higher or lower as a result of the government's decision to block Qatar Airways' applications for 28 additional flights in and out of Australia?

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

I thank Senator Cash for her question. It's interesting to note that it's taken three of the opposition's questions to get to the issue of tourism as it relates to the issues that the opposition have been raising today.

I'll take that interjection, Senator Ruston, and, no, I won't be filibustering. I'll be answering the question that I—

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, a point of order in relation to relevance. It is now well over 30 seconds into the answer. It was a very specific question in relation to airfares for Australians and whether or not they would be higher or lower as a result of the government's decision.

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

I will remind the minister of his question, but I will also remind all senators in this place that the minister is entitled to take interjections. There was an interjection, which the minister also responded to, but I have reminded him of the question and I would ask all senators to listen in silence.

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

The reality is this: there is significant downward pressure on airfares at the moment. One of the reasons for that is that we, as a government, are correcting all of the problems that you created during the pandemic in terms of the ability of Australians to travel in and out of this country. Can I go through—

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order on my left!

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

They want to ask the questions but they don't want to hear what the answers are. Let me go through some of the most recent—

The:

Senator McKenzie, I've called you by name a number of times during question time. Tomorrow night, Tuesday night, is open ended adjournment. I invite you to make your comments there and not during question time. Minister Farrell.

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

I'm on duty tomorrow night. Let me go through some of the airlines that are now coming into Australia as a result of decision—

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

President, a point of order on direct relevance. This was a one-sentence question asked by Senator Cash. It went very precisely to a decision taken by the government in relation to Qatar Airways. As enlightening as it may be for the senator to go through a bunch of other decisions that may or may not have been taken, to be directly relevant to the question asked he should address the decision that he is being asked about, not other decisions.

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

Thank you, Senator Birmingham. Minister Wong.

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

On the point of order: the question was about price, and, last time I looked, supply and demand are relevant to price. The deputy leader and trade minister is going through the ways in which the government's policies are increasing the supply of flights in and out of Australia. It's entirely relevant. I know that economics is no longer relevant to you now you're in opposition. I know you don't want to let economics get in the way of politics—

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

On the points of order, I will remind the minister of the question, but he was talking about cheaper airfares, which was part of the question that Senator Cash asked. I would once again ask senators to stop the disorderly interjections. Minister Farrell.

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

The opposition doesn't like us talking about all of the things that this government is doing in the tourism space to put downward pressure on prices. Let's go through some of them. China Southern will start Guangzhou—

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

Thank you, Minister Farrell. Senator Cash, first supplementary.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, did you advocate to the minister for transport or the Prime Minister for approval of Qatar Airways' application for additional flights into and out of Australia?

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

I thank Senator Cash for her first supplementary question. I don't have to advocate propositions to either the minister for transport or the Prime Minister to put downward pressure on prices as they relate to airfares. Can I go through—I only got a chance—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order! Minister Farrell, please continue.

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

I only got a chance to go through one of the companies which are now flying into Australia, but—

Opposition senators interjecting—

Okay, I will tell you some more. China Southern restarted the Shenzhen-Sydney route with three flights per week from 17 June 2023. Singapore Airlines has revealed that it will add 4,700 seats between Singapore and Australia from March 2024, including increased capacity to Adelaide, Cairns, Darwin, Perth, Sydney and Melbourne. Changes include upgrading to wide bodies— (Time expired)

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

Senator Cash, second supplementary?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, prior to the decision being made, did you discuss the application from Qatar Airways for additional flights in and out of Australia with any executive or representative of Qantas? If so, when?

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

Well, I don't make a habit of discussing, particularly in this chamber, discussions I may or may not have with—

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

So you did?

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

Well, you can't draw that conclusion either. I respect, and I think one of the reasons why this mob here lost government is that they didn't respect, discussions between ministers and businesspeople in this country. I don't make a habit of coming into question time and revealing private discussions that I may or may not have with particular individuals, because that is not the way to build up trust between a government and businesses, and let me tell you: this government is all about building up trust, rebuilding the trust that— (Time expired)