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

They ask questions, but I'd suggest that they actually should have asked questions to people on their side who understand the aviation sector. If they'd done that, then they wouldn't have gone down this rabbit hole, because there are people on that side who understand the way the air services agreements work and the way that global aviation works as well, which is not a free-for-all. Australia seeks access to international markets. Whilst I was the minister, we weren't successful in getting a European air services agreement, and that has restricted our access substantially. Whilst I was the minister, we made sure that we did have that access to the US for Virgin as well as Qantas, and for the US airlines to be able to fly to Australia as well.

We have the most open aviation market in the world bar none—bar none. There isn't another country in the world that has the access that we do. Qatar can increase the number of passengers, tomorrow, coming into Australia, either at the gateway airports by flying different aircraft or by going into other airports. (Time expired)

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