House debates Questions without Notice
Aviation Industry
Michael McCormack Riverina, National Party, Shadow Minister for International Development and the Pacific
2:19 pm
My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. Did the minister have a conversation with Alan Joyce regarding Qatar's application before the decision was made?
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
Milton Dick Speaker
Order! We don't need sound effects when a minister is called. I can't be clearer than that. I mean it.
Ms Catherine King Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government
I thank the member for Riverina for his question, and I really welcome the question that has come specifically from him because I have a little bit to say about his role in international aviation service agreements as well.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
Milton Dick Speaker
Order! Members on my left, I cannot hear what the minister is saying. I'm sure, as the question has been asked, you would like to hear the answer.
Ms Catherine King Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government
As you would expect, my department undertook consultation with all relevant aviation stakeholders, and I was aware of different stakeholders' views when I took the decision. I do routinely meet with CEOs of all airlines, airports and peak bodies, and from my recollection the main people lobbying me about Qatar came from Virgin and a third party in my office on behalf of Qatar. The discussions I have had recently with Qantas have been about their concerns about our same job, same pay legislation. But because I am asked about this matter of international aviation service agreements, which is what this question is about—
Milton Dick Speaker
Order! The member for Lalor will cease interjecting.
Ms Catherine King Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government
I wonder why you don't want me to answer this.
Honourable members interjecting—
Milton Dick Speaker
The minister will pause, the House will come to order and I will hear from the Leader of the Opposition.
Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
This is the third time that we have posed a very tight question to the minister. I ask for your ruling in relation to whether the minister is relevant to the very tight question that was asked. I ask for your ruling in relation to the matter.
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
To the point of order, the question referred to the decision concerning Qatar and the agreement with Qatar, which is what the minister is now referring to.
Milton Dick Speaker
Listening to the Leader of the Opposition and listening to the minister's answers, she has canvassed the issue around her conversations, which is what the question was about, and who she's met with, and she has indicated in her answer who she has been meeting with. The question also included the decision around the application regarding the decision that the minister has taken. I'm going to listen very carefully to her answer to make sure she's being relevant to that part of the question.
Honourable member s interjecting—
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
To the point of order, it has always been the case in its place under speakers certainly as long as I have been here that rulings would be given, particularly on relevance, in the exact form that was just given, which is guidance to the person rather than giving a specific ruling on every occasion. All speakers have done that, and that is exactly what has happened here.
Milton Dick Speaker
I'm asking the minister to make sure her answer is relevant. I've explained where—the Manager of Opposition Business?
Paul Fletcher Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy
Mr Speaker, again, we are seeking clarification on this side of the House. What is your ruling? Is the minister in order?