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Opposition frontbencher Michaelia Cash says Alan Joyce should be called to front the Coalition\u2019s Senate inquiry into the government\u2019s decision to reject Qatar Airways from adding more flights to Australia.<\/p>\n
The Coalition secured the probe into Transport Minister Catherine King\u2019s June decision with the help of the Senate crossbench on Tuesday afternoon, as the government weathers heat from the opposition and the Greens over transparency and competition in the local aviation market.<\/p>\n
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Qantas chief Alan Joyce is departing his role prematurely.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Bloomberg<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cAlan Joyce should be called to give evidence to the Senate inquiry into the Albanese government Qatar Airways debacle,\u201d Cash said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to hear directly from him about whether he or other Qantas executives had any discussions with the prime minister or anyone from the government about Qatar Airways applying for more services to Australia.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to know who from the government he lobbied and when.\u201d<\/p>\n Coalition frontbencher Michaelia Cash wants Alan Joyce to appear before a Senate inquiry into the government\u2019s Qatar decision.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Alex Ellinghausen<\/cite><\/p>\n Albanese has denied having any conversation with Joyce, who departs the airline on Wednesday under a cloud of controversy, or any other executive from the airline before the decision to prevent Qatar Airways from gaining more access to the Australian market.<\/p>\n Albanese confirmed on Tuesday he spoke with Virgin Australia\u2019s boss, Jayne Hrdlicka, about the government\u2019s move, but claimed he did not know at the time that a decision had already been made.<\/p>\n King told parliament after question time she had made the ruling without any regard for any one company\u2019s commercial interests.<\/p>\n Labor state governments in Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia have sided with Qatar on the issue, while Labor Party president Wayne Swan has suggested the decision could be reviewed.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n